I walked under a tree

that lives in a neighborhood lawn

Seeing every generation

of kids playing there

Its wrinkled bark smiles at me

Green leaves offer shade

Turning to brown

and falling

Branches get picked up

and played with

Sticks turning into swords

and limbs getting climbed on

Hammocks are strung by tired teenagers

and Piñatas by parents of crazed children

What a tree

Every year

it grows

and pets get buried under its roots

It lives and dies

for others

Sheltering their souls