She stands alone

She stands alone, both tall and true

The perfect picture of solitude

The soul of a woman encased in bark

With limbs that move in a majestic arc.

Alone she faced the storms of life

The wind and rain, disease and strife

Others gave up, but no, she not ...

And there she stands for all to see

She had her share of troubles and woes

But she made it through and still she grows.

Like her I too know grief and pain

I have faced the wind, I have felt the rain

And like her too, I still stand tall

Though life may beat me, I will not fall.

It may throw punches, I may take a blow

But in the end I too shall grow.

Each storm I weather increases my strength

And beneath this skin, my soul’s to thank

The elm and I, we know what to do

We count on ourselves and make it through.

Kelly Cook