The Good Tree

I wrote this immediately after a powerful dream in late 2001. I kept as true to the dream as possible. It is a simple and repetitive narration.

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I was borne

on the wings of a dream

and they carried me to

a valley with a stream

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it wound a course

through the barren floor

which was rocky and packed

with a deep red soil

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and around one bend

right beside a cliff

grew a grand old tree

with a mighty girth

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the tree split low

into two main limbs

and they both grew straight

tall and proud twins

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the branches were large

and interspaced

they held to each other

and the rock cliff face

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the tree tops rose

to a ledge in the cliff

where people have climbed

for thousands of years

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the tree was good

somehow I know

it had always been there

watching mankind grow

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in this dream

as I flew around

travellers came

and they sat them down

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round the tree

and beside the stream

taking some rest

from the mid-day heat

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they spread their blankets

and baskets of food

they played their music

with bells and flutes

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the girls laughed and danced

all barefoot and free

and the boys did climb

up the cliff and the tree

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the joy was real

and the kinship strong

and the people would clap

as they sang their songs

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the tree was happy

somehow I know

it had seen this before

watching mankind grow

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when the dance was good

and the tree grew old

where the cliff was high

and the stream ran cold

when all the people clapped

and the girls were free

while the boys climbed high

and played in the tree

when the flutes all sang

and the bells all rang

when the music was good

and the tree was pleased

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up the tree

in the limbs of the twins

two brothers sat down

and with matching grins

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each played his flute

with a rapid beat

and threw the song back

in a happy duel

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there were many people on

the cliff and the tree

but one man stood

on the ledge above

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I went up to him

and as the music played

the man was dancing

with his back to the tree

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he was on the edge

and he jumped and clapped

and the music grew

both loud and fast

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now the dance is good

and the tree is old

where the cliff is high

and the stream runs cold

all the people clap

and the girls are free

all the boys climb high

and play in the tree

while the flutes all sing

and the bells all tease

now the music is good

and the tree is pleased

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I felt vertigo

as I watched him kick

feared he would fall

with a mis-placed step

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there was a snake

twisting at his feet

it would undulate

with the stamping beat

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it was long and black

and my instincts reeled

and I filled with fear

for the nimble man

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but they seemed to move

with a common accord

so it was a dance

meant for snake and man

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yet the dance is good

and the tree is old

where the cliff is high

and the stream runs cold

still the people clap

and the girls are free

still the boys climb high

and play in the tree

all the flutes keep singing

and the valley is ringing

still the music is good

still the tree is pleased

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for through this valley

in our ancestor’s feet

all of us have gone

past the cliff and the tree

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there has always been

the good tree and the stream

and there’s always been a snake

to dance with the man

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as the music peaked

and was about to end

the man stopped his dance

and jumped to the tree

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the music fell with a crash

and the time had come

for the people to move

and the dream was done

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I felt as though

I had seen a great thing

to be in the valley

with the stream and the tree

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where all of us have gone

some time before

in our ancestor’s time

through the valley floor

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and as for the dance

with the snake and the man

I don’t know the meaning

and I don’t know the plan

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but it seemed very real

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always

the dance is good

and the tree grows old

where the cliff is high

and the stream runs cold

all the people will clap

all the girls stay free

all the boys will climb

and play in the tree

the flutes will sing

the bells will ever ring

for the music endures

and the tree is pleased

Chambers Street

Metamorphosis