Some worlds die quietly.

Some burn because we failed to tend them.

This is the story of a man who returned to the ashes

and chose to rebuild what he once destroyed.

There once was a place I was honored to see

A secret world revealed only to me

A landscape so real through descriptions I was told

A world that existed only in one beautiful person's soul

The more that I visited the more work I saw done

Once a lonely tree, into an enormous world it would become

A place valued as sacred to both whom shared the trips

A place of serenity when reality lost its grip

It's been a long time since this world I have seen

The person that built it no longer shares the dream

The last that I heard meadows had been burnt

The feeling of dread was now all that it churned

I watched as the creator lost control of their life

I watched as I knew I caused the strife

Anger and resentment became the building blocks

That I used to turn this paradise into a hell full of locks

Nowhere safe for the creator to run

No beautiful skies to absorb rays from the sun

No stream to meditate or cabin to escape

Just a vast burnt landslide left so desolate

An eternity since I’ve enjoyed this place

Not since the last time, I saw a smile on her face

The smiles I have learned I can never recreate

But the life of this world, I may just be able to resuscitate 

So with my demons as guides I one day began

Traveling slowly down a path I once ran

Up to a tree, still struggling with life

The tree is a sign of all that was left of my once loving wife

Through rage and heartache I tore her world apart

But now a new sensation has grown in my heart

One of forgiveness towards her but mostly myself

Gave birth to a mission I now strongly felt

What if I rebuild a world that is not mine

An imaginary place in only her mind

A serenity of life and magic so filled

Would she see the attempts I so desperately willed

I came to the tree and looked in disgust

To save her world, start with the tree I must

So day in and day out my demons and I returned

Simply to water the tree, and scrape away charred wood from the burn

It was ugly at first seeming more damage than good

Watching black slowly turn to rotting wet wood

But the wood was not rotten just starved for love needing shown

And after some time, a green sprig was seen to have grown

The feeling of satisfaction filled my body with a sense

That what I was doing was my own spiritual cleanse

The world had allowed me back to right all my wrongs

And eventually one day I'd see again what was once shown

I go there now daily with new tasks each day

I write down my progress seeing what else there is to save

The world upon memory I've built over the years

Still doesn't look like the world she made clear

But in the middle of that field my time has been well used

Once on the verge of death a beautiful tree now ensues

Its twigs no longer hang buried under stress

Now flowing with leaves it shows off its dress

Green and browns that glow in the light

Wave hello in the wind with every returning sight

I sit in the shade and look around at the world

Still burnt and needing recovery from my raging turmoil

I started the journey just trying to return

And found a new mission I was now so concerned

And I've put in my time to make it again shine

Though only a tree, It shows the healing of time

Time spent with purpose to recover a loss

Time spent in effort despite any cost

Time spent with only the passion to rebuild

That one lonely tree that sat in her field

Today I decided I've done all I can for the tree

I installed the swing so that her little girl can swing free

I'll watch for her return as I move on to the next phase

Taking the burnt grass and getting it razed

I'll turn the land and grow a new meadow

Until her return I'll be a stewardly fellow

I'll tend all this land and build it by the day

Until once again the serenity can stay

For this place isn't mine but I destroyed it the same

I took her safe place and crumbled it so vain

Now I rebuild not for myself or for her

But for a place so the magic can now again stir

A debt I repay to the blessings I've tossed

A restitution so sought for all that we've lost

Now it is made clear that my soul is so free

And it all started by caring for just one little tree.