Offer Extended, Offer Accepted

Discontent, like that crafty serpent,

creeps through the forest,

capturing the imagination of the trees-

majestic and mighty, the masters of their own universe.

Independent and free, their strong branches,

pulsing with life, reach to the Heavens

where a benevolent God-King reigns,

providing everything they need to grow and thrive.

But the thoughts take root:

“We need…”, “What if…?”, “One of our own…”

“Much better…” “Yes, a king”!

Consensus reached, the offer of kingship

goes out to those most qualified

and most respected.

But also the most wise.

Olive, fig, and grapevine all decline,

choosing instead to fulfill their ordained purpose:

to bring forth oil to honor gods and man

to bring forth fruit, both good and sweet

to bring forth wine to cheer the universe,

with no desire to wave their branches above all the others.

Ah, but not so the bramble; hungry for power and prestige,

he readily agrees; the deal is done,

the die is cast: a demand and a threat.

The trees obey their new king, unaware that

they have just exchanged their

independence and freedom

for domination and annihilation.

And the bramble begins its insidious victory march,

embedding its razor-sharp claws into vulnerable bark,

grabbing, clinging, choking, conquering, advancing,

squeezing the very soul from every tree

until all individual identities are erased,

all life is extinguished,

and the forest is totally encased in

an impenetrable, thorny cage of its own making.

— cmshingle