Pictures and Trees

By Bug

An image of a tree

An exact moment held still

Doesn’t mean a damn thing

Till you’ve seen the thing for real.

A tree is nothing without the flutter of leaves

The trunk bending and bowing with a stiff enough breeze

The shivering branches in the naked starlight

The pallid bark against the rich night

The shade it can give you

Or the warmth if you burn it

A hug if you’re lonely

Or a friend if you’re learn-ed

A moment is nice enough

You might get the gist

But it can’t hold a candle

To the real stuff.