My roots are my ancestors, maternal and paternal
My trunk is myself and the person to whom I pledge my love and devotion
He is my love, my soulmate, my friend, my shelter in a storm
And my trunk bears witness to the strength of our love and respect for each other
My limbs are the children I may give birth to and
The extended relatives and families my soulmate and I bring into our union
My leaves are the friends, acquaintances, teachers, and others I meet during my lifetime

My roots are always alive, they are the heart of me
My trunk is my lifeline supported by my roots
My limbs are what sprouts leaves so I may always be nourished
My leaves are the means by which Mother Nature provides me with nourishment

My roots will always be with me
My trunk may split in places, shed bark, or develop wrinkles
But it does not wither and die
My trunk continues to sprout new limbs
And my limbs sprout limbs as my tree spreads itself out
My tree becomes abundant and continues to grow
My leaves grace me with all of the beauty Mother Nature saw fit to bestow on me

As my limbs mature, some are wont to fall off
They lay on the ground around me, causing sadness for a little while
When I pick them up and discard them
It is only so that they might go further out into the world
And become nourishment for others

My leaves fall to the ground every year
Some remain with me and become nourishment to my roots
Some are blown away by the wind
Some are taken away to be made into a nourishing mixture
No matter what path they take
My leaves continue to provide nourishment
Those that stay with me nourish my roots
Those that leave or are taken away
End up providing nourishment for someone else's garden or tree

For all of this abundance in my life
I thank God.

Spivey