The Oak Tree

I found a card among my father's things that I'd sent to him when he was recovering from a serious illness a few years back.

It features a verse entitled, "The Oak Tree." There's no author noted, so I can't attribute it... I love the story, though, and thought you might, too.

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 each 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."