Heaven's Branches

My childhood elm of outgrowth stout Nourished His formative buds about While holding me during youthful sprout Yet far I fell from Him. For thoughtless Time forgives forgot He waited for his puerile tot My seasons passed far from his plot And further I fell from Him. Upon my adolescent spark He let me stab his bleeding bark With foolish whim, a lover’s mark Still further I fell from Him. While seasons passed with nature’s grace And changed the lines upon my face He kept my sacred vernal place Still further I fell from Him. Soon I was met with fortune’s snide And chilling winter did preside His thickened limbs He did provide Still further I fell from Him. When life bestowed my last defeat For years of folly and conceit My eyes beheld His sad retreat How far I fell from Him! That tree that held my girlish jump And greenery once rich and plump Was now a sickly blackened stump How far I fell from Him! I wept upon His tattered rings For all the comfort He did bring Throughout my vain and endless sting I'd not ascend to Him! Somehow He felt my tears abreast And cleansed the faults I had possessed He offered me His stump for rest I did ascend to Him.