Member Poem

When I was young and hearty,
I once sowed a measly seed
and saw with awe
this paltry seed grow into
a beautiful flowering tree,
permeating sweet fragrance
all around pleasing the very soul.

With a stroke of genius,
I sowed a shiny silver dollar likewise
and waited with bated breath
to see if it grew into my dream tree:

A tree with branches of solid silver
and sparkling silver leaves,
It will bear fruits of shiny
gold and silver coins and
make all my dreams come true.

With glitters in my eyes
and fervid anticipation,
I guarded it day and night,
nurturing it with wishful aspiration.

But days turned into years
and still I did not see
even a seedling spring forth.

Now old and at my wits’ end,
I dug up the coin and held it
in my trembling wrinkled hand;

“Can I have that, Grandpa?”

The boy asked as he whisked
the coin off my palm.

I stared dumbfounded
as he ran to the roadside vendor
to buy an ice cream cone.