The Banyan Tree

She stands alone in the rain glancing off her immense form
Splashing into dirty pools at her feet and running away in rivulets
Even as the life giving moisture seeped into her
She felt defeated by the outpour that drenched and humiliated her
Mocking her empty shade and wasted haven.
She can remember a time when she was proud
Of her intense green that protected the stranded and weary
Enfolding them in a gentle shade when the sun beat down
Or blanketing them in relative dryness from which to see
The rain wash away all restraint and oldness from the world.
She remembers cradling boys and monkeys in her boughs
With the same sturdy care and firm support
Thrilling with the birds making families within her
Sighing with the lovers who carved painful love into her.
But once the rain stopped, once the sun lost its heat
They all walked away to their own worlds
Boys grew up, monkeys moved to the hills
Baby birds learned to fly off into the blinding blue
And the lovers danced into their futures hand in hand
Or quarelled, shed tears and went their separate ways
While she remained scarred by signs of their love forever.
Always she was left behind - welcoming more needy under her leaves
By the side of the road that seemed to take everyone but her
Around the bend and into a future full of promise
While she waited alone for her roots to become wings.