The Tree of Hope
On a hill above the town There stood an ancient olive tree Green gnarled branches reaching up Reaching desperately for hope Above the hill the full moon rose It framed the tree with gossamer grace One child east saw the tree and dreamed Another child west saw the tree and danced Amid the dance and dream Screams within some souls despair One child declared her dreams forever lost With nothing left to give but her life to lies Above the hill the sun arose It framed the tree with radiant light One child saw the tree and dreamed Another child saw the tree and danced Elder empty souls dressed the dreaming child With hate covered covered her with death While cautious parents dressed with fear The dancer in colors bold to match her smile At a market they converged The dreamer and the dancer Their eyes meet with a smile Then vaporized they became A horrific mist of dust and blood Above the hill a machine rose It framed the tree with beating blades A rocket's fire destroys the olive tree Now children neither dream or dance Now no one can dare to chance Old men sneer shaking damned fists Death is their desire their passion There is no cause like destruction Empty dried souls on fire with rage They play their peoples lives away When another tree becomes ancient When it sits atop the hill in the light When its fruit is harvested and shared The young will dream and dance together On the dust of hateful leaders They will understand This tree is the tree of hope
© Paul Viel 2002
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