Red Sap

• Jack Jarden, Grade 11
• Poetry
• 2014

It grew beside me, years on end.
From a seed in a pod, it grew leaves, branches and breathed in the air around it.
Strong and tall grew its trunk.
It bleeds red thick sap, cut its pale white bark.
We laughed together and watched the sunset over our leaves, shoulder to shoulder.
I watched it grow old, lose all its leaves and bark rough, cracked and dry.
One warm spring day it fell over in the wind.
Old and frail.
They took it away from mem never to be seen again.
But one morning another one came.
It climbed my branches.
I knew we would be best friends.