PARABLE OF THE TREES

By Yasen Vedrin

(The Rise of the Fall)

The trees assembled once into the wood.

They wished to have a king to rule their space.

The most majestic near and far he stood,

Whose name would be praised high in every place.

“Come, Fig Tree, come! Become our reigning king!

For there is none like you inside our land.

Your sweet, rich fruit will soothe the grief we bring.

You are the greatest, worthy to command.”

“I shall not leave my juicy, tender fruit!” –

The Fig Tree answered to the crowded wood.

“To serve and give is Life in my pursuit,

But earthly power revolts me where I stood.”

“Come, Olive Tree! Reign high above our ground!

Where can we find another like your form?

Within your Holy Oil a ray is found!

From North to South your value keeps us warm!”

“I will not rule with berries from my branch!” –

The Olive answered with a Holy grace.

“One God bestows the Light that none can quench!

Without Him, there's no Meaning in this place!”

“Come, sunny Vine, and reign above our space!

And let the wine into our cups be poured!

Become our queen with boundless power and grace,

The woods will pride in thrones you can afford!”

“I would not hold my grapes inside the clay!” –

The Vine had told them with a charming voice.

“Not every wine creates a vain display,

But passions look for ends by their own choice.”

The trees then withered in a nightmare deep.

Above them, no one wished to rule or reign.

Where could they find a master they could keep,

Whose mortal price would not be spent in vain...

They found him... Bramble! Thorny unto death!

In swarms of restless, wild mosquitoes bound.

Sucking up poisons with a mole’s dark breath,

Scratching and piercing everyone around.

“Come, terrifying one! Become our king!

Piercing us with your ominous, sharp thorn!

The voice of every creature cries to spring!

We pray you, Bramble, rule us from this morn!

In this sly world become our earthly share,

Until our clay within the dust decays!

For this is our last state and grim despair –

That you’re in us, and we are in your ways...”