A Tree
By Lilly Tanis
Sometimes I feel just like a tree;
So tall and strong and glad and free.
Firm and solidly in the ground,
And to be seen by all around.
At times enjoying great, long spring
And at these times I laugh and sing.
So strong and free and unafraid,
With roots so deep that can’t be swayed.
With flowers blooming all around,
Both on my branches and the ground,
Giving thanks and praise to my Lord,
Hope and new life springs from His Word.
Cold snow vanishes like a dream.
It soon melts and runs in a stream.
With leaves fluttering with a sheen
And hardship is not felt nor seen.
In Spring I feel just like a tree,
Growing steadily as can be.
This time of new life shortly ends,
The next season around the bend.
Summer is quite different than Spring,
But as I do my work, I sing.
It is the time for constant growth
Of all my branches and fruit both.
These times of growth though, do bring pain.
When water’s scarce and so is rain.
My roots search deeper in the ground
To see if more water’s to be found.
If the Lord’s my Rock in this time
His water He gives and is mine.
With my faith in Him, I’ll grow
And I am glad that it is so.
In the desert of my lifetime
I know His promises are mine.
He gives me this strength as a gift.
At the end, the fruit's ready to pick.
Autumn is a drastic change in pace,
It goes much slower; not a race.
Time to settle down for a while
All my leaves fallen in a pile.
Warming me for my cold slumber,
Tells me it’s the close of Summer.
A sleepy time for wondering.
For thinking and for pondering.
The chilly weather cools the ground.
Leaves go fluttering all around.
The cool crispness is wonderous,
The frost settling all around us.
They have their beauty sparkling.
In the sunrise they’re twinkling.
They portray to me the wonders
Of what God makes with His fingers.
The Winter is a chilling time,
It freezes me and numbs my mind.
It dumps the snow the cold winds blow,
Unloading its burden below.
Weight on my branches is heavy,
How? O how can I keep steady?
My branches can’t take it much more
O how they are burdened and sore.
There’s not much more that I can take.
One more strain and I think they’ll break.
O Lord help me to take this weight.
Without You I know they will break.
Support, help, and strengthen me Lord!
Strengthen them again with Your Word.
Though the winter ebbs on and on,
Through You and You alone I’m strong.
Winter soon passes into Spring.
When I am thawed and I can sing.
The Spring then gives way to Summer,
Leaves and branches grow in number.
Then Summer fades again to Fall
And I am still there, standing tall.
The chill of Winter comes again,
I’ll lean on my faithful Friend.
Who keeps me strong through each season.
The drought comes without a reason,
It sometimes seems to be to me.
But I can’t see what He can see.
So I’ll dig my roots still deeper,
Standing strong I’ll face all weather.
My great Protector’s always near
And with Him, I will never fear.
At times uprooted, at times firm,
At times I’m scarred, and great’s the burn.
Through all weather, God cares for me,
Supplies each need whate'er it be.
Lilly Tanis
Lilly Tanis is 17 and has been homeschooled her whole life. She greatly enjoys spending her time reading, playing her guitar, and playing board games. She also greatly enjoys drinking tea and coffee and eating chocolate.
Lately, she has taken up writing and has found she greatly enjoys it. And had found that she greatly enjoys poetry. She seeks to honor God in her writing and hopes that they will all point to Him and loves to do this by the examples she sees around her in His creation.
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That is really moving. Wow! It really captures the changing emotions and also the growing trust in God as the trials come. So beautiful.
Such a spectacular poem Lilly! 😀
I love this theme of nature and seasons. It’s so beautiful and feels so alive.
This is really a beautiful piece!!! I love it! To be honest, the other day while praying, I felt the Lord lay a poem on my heart that was very similar to yours (laid out completely different though) about the seasons and God being there with us through them. I just wanted to say that I thought it was super cool to see this laid on someone else’s heart as well!! Beautiful job, Lilly!
Thank you.
That’s really cool we both had similar thoughts to write down.
Wow! So pretty! I like how it’s from the perspective of a tree depending on God.