I watch the trees swaying softly in the morning breeze

Their leaves seem to flourish, awakened by the first light of the day

The long hot summer drought doesn’t seem to bother the trees

Whose appendages greet the sun and gentle wind which causes them to shift and sway

All but one lone Dogwood tree,

The Dogwood fought for life through its existence and thereby has earned my empathy

Standing in the yard and surrounded by grass on all sides which is bleached by the sun and dry summer drought

The lonely leafless shoot could not acclimate

With no rain the dogwood’s bare dehydrated limbs were unable to bloom or sprout

Thus this Dogwood’s life has terminated