This poem was read by a yoga teacher at class I attended recently. I enjoyed it. Maybe you will too.

The Oak Tree

by Johnny Ray Ryder Jr

A mighty wind blew night and day
It stole the oak tree’s leaves away
Then snapped its boughs and pulled its bark
Until the oak was tired and stark

But still the oak tree held its ground
While other trees fell all around
The weary wind gave up and spoke.
How can you still be standing Oak?

The oak tree said, I know that you
Can break each branch of mine in two
Carry every leaf away
Shake my limbs, and make me sway

But I have roots stretched in the earth
Growing stronger since my birth
You’ll never touch them, for you see
They are the deepest part of me

Until today, I wasn’t sure
Of just how much I could endure
But now I’ve found, with thanks to you
I’m stronger than I ever knew

After class, I asked the yoga instructor about it and she emailed it to me. Who knew you can get so much out of a free yoga class at REI! I didn’t think about the poem again until a few days later when I was stopped in my tracks at the beauty of this oak tree.