Trees in the Light
By May K.
A marvelous thing seems to happen
When trees are touched by light
One moment they are just sleeping
And the next they awake so bright
When trees are touched by light
One moment they are just sleeping
And the next they awake so bright
As the sunlight drapes over their
leaves
Some lift and begin to sing
‘Glory! Glory!’ dances on their petals
And their voices to the sunlight they bring!
Others are ever so quiet
Indeed, I would say almost shy
They hide their faces in modesty
As if they aren’t worthy of the sky
Yet the sunlight touches them still
And so in humility they glow
Softly, gently, yet undoubtedly gladly
Some are even stranger
In the shade they seem soft and sweet
But in the light turn to regal statues
So greeting all that they meet
They seem to grow still
Somber and oh so quiet
So to these I give their will
And leave them in themselves mired
For my eyes and attention turn
To the ones I love best of all
Who when the sun shines upon them
Gives to it their all
Every leaf becomes a flame
And every flame sings in song
Oh the whole tree sings ablaze!
And I could listen all day long
Listen as it dances
Listen as it sings
For in the light it becomes a light
And to the light its whole self brings
But alas the sun comes and then it leaves
And the trees return to their quiet wait
So I too must retire to wait for the next moment
For the sunlight is never late
Some lift and begin to sing
‘Glory! Glory!’ dances on their petals
And their voices to the sunlight they bring!
Others are ever so quiet
Indeed, I would say almost shy
They hide their faces in modesty
As if they aren’t worthy of the sky
Yet the sunlight touches them still
And so in humility they glow
Softly, gently, yet undoubtedly gladly
Some are even stranger
In the shade they seem soft and sweet
But in the light turn to regal statues
So greeting all that they meet
They seem to grow still
Somber and oh so quiet
So to these I give their will
And leave them in themselves mired
For my eyes and attention turn
To the ones I love best of all
Who when the sun shines upon them
Gives to it their all
Every leaf becomes a flame
And every flame sings in song
Oh the whole tree sings ablaze!
And I could listen all day long
Listen as it dances
Listen as it sings
For in the light it becomes a light
And to the light its whole self brings
But alas the sun comes and then it leaves
And the trees return to their quiet wait
So I too must retire to wait for the next moment
For the sunlight is never late
Copyright © 2025 by Kwek Yi Zhen
