The Climbing Tree

There is a tree in the Audubon Zoo that was meant to be a climbing tree. Maybe it didn't know it hundreds of years ago when it was a little tree just sprung from it's acorn cocoon.
It swayed too and fro in the hurricane winds. It tucked its leaves in and hid when the grazers passed by. Somehow it stretched above the swampy plants crowding around it and reached the sky.

The sun warmed it. The decaying plants nourished it, and It grew and grew. The deer scratched the velvet from their horns on it's ever thickening trunk. Even so it withstood.

It grew tall and then taller. It's twisted flesh and tough bark withstood the axes edge forcing the woodsman to go elsewhere. It's ever longer arms grew heavier and heavier until the weight and the atmosphere forced it to rest it's huge limbs upon the earth... providing a perfect spot for little creatures to scamper up into it's embrace. It wasn't a lonely tree. It couldn't be. Not with the welcoming reach of it's branches beckoning all to come. Come feel how it's scratchy bark bites into your knees.....

Come on up look at the large ant struggling up right beside you carrying it's heavy load....
There's higher places in my arms. You can see so far. You mustn't be afraid to climb a little higher...
Around the corner there's room....
for everybody....
There's room for everyone in my branches.