Caretakers

For us two it was a pleasure, our place
a hovel really, on the edge of town,
marshy bleak some said, but we loved it –
so quiet, its nature suiting us.
Then those two arrived, looking for
food, shelter that cold night.
Other, rich houses had said no.
What they missed – the stories,
the craic, them, and the magic.

Knew they were more than two young drifters,
that aura about. Then the drink. Good God,
it never ended – that’s when It all came out,
what they were and the divine gift they had.
Because of our good deed, we were chosen
not only to survive the coming devastation,
but given a future – a lovely life, and when
our ageing end came, ever lasting reward.

Wife and husband, Baucis and Philomen,
now Linden and Oak, firmly planted,
side by side, arms outspread, to each entwined.
We say to bird, beetle, butterfly, insect, grub, larva… all
creatures that land, light, sit on, or beneath us,
resting, sheltering, feeding, making a home –
Welcome, Welcome, Welcome;
as we did before, on that night of magic.
Our leaves breath, our roots drink;
air, rain, and, soil renew us – our bowl never empties –
filling and flowing, filling and flowing, from nature’s bounty.
We are replete, and rejoice forever in giving.

Bob Larmour

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