LOCATED DEEP IN THE THICK WOODS
STANDS ONE LONE DEAD TREE,
MANY A FIERCE STORM HAS PASSED THROUGH
PASSING BY - ALWAYS LETTING THE TREE BE.

ALL THE LIMBS ARE BROKEN
THEY LEFT A YEAR OR TWO AGO,
NO MORE GREEN LEAVES IN THE SPRING
STANDING ALONE - THE TIME GOES SO SLOW.

ONCE HE WAS A STATELY OAK
NOW HE WAS IN RUINS AND HOLLOW,
HE SPREAD OUT AND REACHED VERY FAR
TODAY HE LIVED ALONE WITH A LOT OF SORROW.

THEN SUDDENLY THIS SPRING
A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER CAME BY,
HE PERCHED ONTO THE SIDE OF THE TREE
COCKED HIS HEAD AND SAID MY MY !

I BELIEVE IF I WORK HARD AT THIS
I CAN DRILL AN OPENING - SMALL AND ROUND,
INSIDE IT WILL BE COZY AND WARM
WAY UP HIGH AND SAFELY OFF THE GROUND.

THEN THE DRILLING DID BEGIN
AS THE WOODY PECKER BEGAN HIS WORK,
THE DEAD WOOD OF THE OLD TREE WAS HARD
THE LITTLE BIRD STAYED WITH HIS JOB - HE DID NOT SHIRK.

IN A FEW DAYS HE HAD MADE AN ENTRANCE
INSIDE HE LOOKED OUT THE TINY HOLE,
IT WAS PERFECT FOR A NEST FOR HIS MATE
OFF TO GET HER - HE DID GO.

SHE WAS VERY EXCITED TOO
THEY BEGAN TO CARRY STICKS AND DRIED HAY,
THEY DID LINE IT WITH FEATHERS SOFT
THEY WORKED TO HAVE A NEST FINISHED SOMETIME TODAY.

SOON FOUR LITTLE EGGS WERE UNDER MAMA'S WINGS
THEY WERE PARENTS IN OVER A WEEK AND HUNTING BUGS,
THE BABIES ATE UP ALL THE INSECTS REALLY FAST
SNATCHING WORMS OUT OF PAPA'S BECK WITH STRONG TUGS.

THEY STAYED INSIDE THIS COZY HOME
LOOKING OUT THE OPEN DOOR,
THE RAINS SPLASHED AGAINST THE OLD TREE
THE WINDS MAKING A LOUD ROAR.

I TOOK A WALK YESTERDAY - PASSED BY THIS TREE
IT IS STILL STANDING IN THE SAME SPOT,
IT DOESN'T LOOK SO LONELY AND FORLORN ANYMORE
THERE'S A NICE WINDOW UP NEAR THE TOP.

PERHAPS NEXT YEAR ANOTHER BIRD
WILL CHOOSE TO LIVE INSIDE,
OR MAYBE A LITTLE GRAY SQUIRREL
HIS ABUNDANCE OF NUTS - HERE HE COULD HIDE.

I'M SURE THE OLD DEAD TREE
WILL SHARE HIS PROTECTION FROM NOW ON,
HE NO LONGER WISHES THE WINDS
WILL TAKE HIM DOWN SO HE CAN BE GONE.


Written...........September 8, 2008
I often see dead trees standing or sometimes leaning in a woods when
I take a walk. I am sure some type of bird or squirrel has lived inside.
The nice round hole has been made by some beck cutting out the dead
wood to get inside. I have even seen more than one opening. Dead trees
are sure to be used and are needed for homes in a large wooded area.


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