Wisdom from an Oak

By Andrew R. Duckworth

We can all gather a bit of wisdom
From the sturdy Oak tree,
The one that weathers storms,
Sheds its dead, dried leaves
Throughout Autumn months,
But springs back to life.
It never chose its place,
Never chose the conditions,
Never pointed to a map and said
“There is the place I’ll prosper!”
But it was and is and persists.
It faces a barrage of hardships-
No shelter for protection.
It waits, its roots strong enough,
Its roots deep enough
That it stays, grows, it survives.
In the midst of all, it thrives.