He smiles down at her, a gleam in his eyes,
Her chin lifts up and her head rises—
With tears and gratitude from the dirt she stands,
Accepting his gift, those beautiful outstretched hands.
Standing tall side by side
The seeds of friendship are planted in their minds.
With constant watering and loving care
A strong young stem gradually appears.
A few years pass and they go their separate ways—
One in the midst of war and one stuck in a maze.
But they each cling tightly to a branch,
Desperately fighting for the life of their plant.
When malevolence tries to cut it down—
They cling tighter still without a sound.
An ax is swung continuously at its base—
but through it all it keeps it shape.
Decades pass since the seed was first sown,
the tree is sturdy and beautiful in its old home.
To this day it remains
As the true friends live out their last days.
-Megan Chang, 1/26/11
