The Story of the Tulip Tree House
Back 50 years or so, my parents planted a tulip tree in the back yard. Every year my mother would hope for it to blossom -- it never did. About 20 years ago, the Cape had a hurricane which brought the tree down. There was nothing left except a few sprouts. After a time the sprouts grew into seven trees -- but not one tulip. My mother died in 2005 and my Father lived here another 5 years before he passed away. The following spring, after my father's death, the tulip tree bloomed for the first time, and has ever since.
A friend of mine who knew my parents and was touched by their tender relationship wrote this poem.
A friend of mine who knew my parents and was touched by their tender relationship wrote this poem.
THE MARVELOUS TULIP TREE
(For Mel and Lou) The marvelous tulip tree stood sentinel, Tall and stanchion straight, securing The eastern corner of the yard Of two who loved. Taller it grew with shapely leaves but never bloomed. Season after season, year by year Hydrangea bushes, annuals in pots Put forth their flowers, glowed and dimmed and died -- While rabbits hopped across the stubby grass And squirrels zig-zagged pathways through the pine. Till the black storm struck, the hurricane Struck down the tulip tree. And they who loved cared for the stricken yard -- The corner wounded, empty, unadorned As season followed season, year by year. The spirit of the marvelous tulip tree Expressed itself in growing shoots and tips That would not stop their growing, till In place of one there seven stood, As tall as ever stood the first; Commanding in that corner, seven trees With gorgeous foliage but never blooming. So of the two who loved one slipped away In form, and one maintained the home, While squirrels leaped from branch to branch And chickadees swifted by. Season followed season, ebb and flow of life -- Wasps and seagulls, sparrows, gliding hawks -- Everything in movement and in sound. And he who lived responded to a silent call And slipped away, was silent, lost to form. Together again, the two who loved. Together once again. Now in the sun-kissed corner of their yard Where poised erect on tips of branches, Buds erect like candle flame -- Into yellow cups unfurled -- Delights of yellow tulips hovered Among the green and shapely leaves; Each bloom an affirmation of their Love Made manifest, in the marvelous tulip tree! The Marvelous tulip tree. by RASmith 2016 |