He began to carve
his initials with mine
then thought to himself
that over time
he could carve life
into the tree...
a life that would have a destiny.

So he carved first soil
with a river beside
then a man and woman
side by side
never could they part
hearts meld as one,
soon welcoming a newborn.

Next were carved
into that tree
many wonderful creatures
that would roam free
harming no one,
no one harming;
a peaceful life rewarding.

Then saplings developed
from that noble tree
to frame the great carvings,
and people came from afar
to honor the tree
of love and grace
and knew they had found the tree of peace.

He carved that all would see
who walked the land
where love ne'er ceased
and know this be the tree of peace.

© Jackie (Micke) Jinks, July 2009

Author's Note: Was prompted to write this poem after seeing
pics of this beautiful tree in an e-mail...purported to be a carved
tree in South Africa. In actuality (after doing research), it is
The Tree of Life, a sculpted 14-story (145-foot tall), 50-foot wide
tree, and the centerpiece and icon in Disney's Animal Kingdom
theme park in Orlando, FL.
Doesn't change where my imagination originally took me, 'tho...