This poem was given to me from one of the widows in our group. It’s called “The Oak Tree” by Johnny Ray Ryder Jr.
The Oak Tree
A mighty wind blew night and day.
It stole the Oak Tree’s leaves away.
Then snapped its boughs
and pulled its bark
until the Oak was tired and stark.
But still the Oak Tree held its ground
while other trees fell all around.
The weary wind gave up and spoke,
How can you still be standing Oak?”
The Oak Tree said, I know that you
can break each branch of mine in two,
carry every leaf away,
shake my limbs and make me sway.
But I have roots stretched in the earth,
growing stronger since my birth.
You’ll never touch them, for you see
they are the deepest part of me.
Until today, I wasn’t sure
of just how much I could endure.
But now I’ve found with thanks to you,
I’m stronger than I ever knew.
2 Responses
Donald A DeMaio
This poem is on the wall at the VA Hospital in East Orange NJ.
They have the poem written with an incorrect word.
While other trees fell all around says, While other trees FEEL all around.
It is framed and the VA was informed but didn’t seem too interested.
Someone failed to catch this in the print and I thought it was noteworthy.
Don DeMaio
Mary Francis
Hi Don. Put your request in writing to the Hospital and they will probably take more interest in your concern. Take care. Mary Francis