The raft gazes longingly at the pier <br />Despite desires to drift away from fear <br /> <br />That tether dangling within that bleak bay <br />Reflects the discontent that shifts his sway <br /> <br />Constantly rocked by belligerent wake <br />Those bowed planks bob with sorrow in that lake <br /> <br />For once he dug into the fertile land <br />Diligence hoping he’d avoid quicksand <br /> <br />Water and daylight ensured the seed grew <br />Many cracked yet survivors numbered few <br /> <br />The howling wind gave life to rugged bark <br />Even when grasping just how ebbs grow stark <br /> <br />Yet in his sway he swelled stronger despite <br />The haste of grim circumstance to ignite <br /> <br />With a snickering axe that shell snapped off <br />Choking joyous whispering limbs like a cough <br /> <br />Tool and sweat whittled and shaped his function <br />Shreds tumbled to test his fragile gumption <br /> <br />For many moons the tree hovers along <br />Doleful he cannot share his leafy song <br /> <br />No longer hugged by the tug of the earth <br />Constant motion clouds his befuddled worth <br /> <br />Once such blessings of water would nurture <br />That choppy break now conspires to torture <br /> <br />What has become of his simpler life? <br />He never asked for this relentless strife <br /> <br />A silhouette drifts in from the sunrise <br />Linked arms swing in play behind smiling eyes <br /> <br />One by one they step into his remains <br />While bright songbirds offer gentle refrains <br /> <br />Ardently they share a tender embrace <br />Forcing the lost plant to contemplate grace <br /> <br />The hinterland glade he shall always miss <br />Yet hope sparks anew as he shares their kiss<br /><br />John Weber<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/aimless-float/
