Poem by Aiden Ciminesi

I am a witness

Years of wisdom stored deep

I’ve seen nearly all

A proud new mom

A scared fellow curled into a ball

A lost one finding their way

A critter that scuttles for a

break from the squall

And while yes, I’ve seen death

I’ve seen kindness most of all

I am a monument

After much deliberation

I get picked once a year

Carefully I’m lowered

And brought to a place that is dear

It’s warm and inviting

You bring family near

You laugh and you share,

you forget that I’m there

Then you lay me to rest,

but next year I’ll still appear

I am timeless

I bend but never break

I’ve lived through all four seasons

The beauty of winter

Snowflakes fall, there are legions

The emergence of spring

Plants and animals begin their motions

The brilliance of summer

I want to feel the warmth for eons

The finale of fall

Trees say farewell with epic explosions

Yes, I may be stubborn, but I’ve

never felt worn

They’ll change forever, but

through it all I feel one emotion

I’m the king of the north

It’s here I love standing

I’m a part of your life, a part of your story

The balance of nature is a thing to behold

And I enjoy it all.