Four Elms By Paul Engle

Four Elms 

Whoever it was that planted them

A hundred years ago,

Spread roots apart and tamped in earth

Would now be great to know

Another man, tree-comforted,

Waits for their leaves to grow.

So cloase they are to the house wall                   

He could have had no fear

That worn with winter and the weight

Of every growing year

They might break roof and window down

Before his sleep could hear.

Yet if they should destroy the house

It would not be so wrong:

Three generations now had heard

Branch lifting and bird song.

we take a chance on anything

We want to keep for long.

By : Paul Engle