There's a tree left
long ago by Farmer Groves
in the pasture.
Why did he leave
this orphan to grow
with no family nearby?
In the morning,
white-tailed deer nibble
blades of grass
glistening with dewdrops.
At night wild turkeys
rest in the arms
of the old oak tree.
Did Farmer Groves leave
this tree to shade
cattle during dog days,
or to shelter them from storms?
The lone tree stands
wrinkled, twisted, and dry.
The blackbirds chatter
and fly to its branches.
In the dark winter,
snow dusts the spine
of the tree shivering alone.
--Brenda Kay Ledford
Do any of my blogger friends know why farmers used to leave one tree alone in the pasture?