Under the Green Leaved Trees

Under the Green-leaved Trees
by
Tom Roach

it was beautiful under the green-leaved trees
the air was filled with the songs of birds
and the laughter of children playing
                   
i walked, i knew
without touching the ground
under the green-leaved trees

the sun held me high
as it dappled and blinked
through the spaces between the leaves

while ahead of me there
was a  pond like a mirror
shining under the sun

too soon i came
to the end of the trees
and looked on a grass-covered meadow

no children played
and strange birds sang
while the grass weaved and waved in the wind

i stood and i pondered
what to do
should i go on or turn around

where was my heart
was it under the trees
or out on the sunlit plain

but the past was gone
and if i pondered for long
the grass would turn brown as it died

then the pond would freeze
and the snow would come
while the winter wind would bite

so i stretched my legs
and walked on home
leaving the magic behind