Hiraeth

By Sara Maria Bastine

Could I get some more please?

Lola drenched me gently with more water.

It’s as if she could hear me.

The droplets on me glistened like tiny diamonds.

The mid-summer breeze caught me off guard.

I swayed my leaves merrily.

Lola could see how happy I was,

She flashed her goofy smile at me.

It was fall and I had grown quite a bit.

My broad rickety branches held the most glorious golden leaves.

Lola would toss the fallen ones and make her famous leaf angels,

And the winds helped me to drizzle more upon her.

My shade was her favorite spot.

She carved her name onto my trunk,

I felt special.

Winter came around top fast.

All my leaves had faded away.

I know Lola was waiting for the cold eagerly.

Her eyes sparkled on seeing my rosy persimmons.

I grew most of them on my lowest branch for her.

She would pick two of them everyday and gobble them up under my shade.

It was her happiness that made mine.

It’s been years since I saw that goofy smile.

I am old now. I am weak

The new family didn’t seem to enjoy me.

I heard them talk about cutting me down tomorrow.

I felt Lola’s carving; I miss her.

Just so, the door flung open.

The tall stranger walked towards me.

He looked at me, is that loath I see in his eyes?

He threw his half drunk glass of water at me.

Could I get some more please?

But he spun swiftly and disappeared into the house.

By Sara Maria Bastine