'Twas a Bench

autumn's thunder brought the storm

fierce and fraught and fiery

pierced the oak and iv'ry

splintered, split, torched and torn

bent and broken, bark deformed

but a mother brought her babe

weary, worn and waned

rested foot upon the root

twas a bench

winter's blanket covered all

chill and cool and cutting

killed the old and budding

the wooden sculpture wrought in fall

set in stone with pallid pall

but a child covered her eyes

guarded from the splattered ice

the frosty oak was her disguise

became a fortress fortified

and when a truce at last arrived

dangled feet above the root

twas a bench

spring's verdure freed the life

sparking, sweet and spritely

branches blooming brightly

critters, creatures denned inside

escaped the oak, left dens behind

but a nervous youth freed untold love

plucked a stirring foxglove  

with his lady on the log

set a knee upon the root

twas a bench

summer's fever fueled the air  

hot and heavy, hanging

briery brambles brangling

choked the oak, refused to share

it's splintered shade now past repair

but a father fueled his saw

roaring, rearing, raw

cut bramble, bush, and claw

set his barrow on the root

gathered branch and twig and shoot

croaking, creaking, lost for loot

calloused fingers traced the grain

wired, wand'ring winding

mallet, chisel guiding

shavings shorn leapt from the plane

built the legs and then the frame

in the barrow once again

gentle artist traced a path

round and rough and new

placed his work amidst the dew

'neath the oaks and blue

carved a sign for those who passed

"mothers, babes, and children all

friends, lovers, creatures small

lay your foot upon the root"

and twas a bench