The Ancient Tree That Hugged Me

I only remember you as an old lady
Wrinkles crawling across your face
Like lines on a dry walnut
Bestowed by time

​

I was a green walnut
Smooth-skinned, tender
No memories yet to store
I had no lines

​

But the ancient tree saw it all:
The sandcastle I built alone
The meals you fed me
The red balloon I tried to push through the window

​

You were there, all along
Till the green walnut turned yellow
Finally, lines to hold memories
Yet I moved on

​

Arms grew longer

I never hugged that ancient tree again
The day they cut it down
A leaf fell off my skin

​

You started shrivelling
Tottering on the way home
Where you used to chase after me
40 metres became a burden

​

You were like a general marching into the chemo room
Across the corridor haunted by fears and tears
You were like that ancient tree
Valiantly reaching to the sky

​

One day
When I turn into a dry walnut
I’ll tell the green little ones
The tale of two ancient trees

​

​

*This poem was selected as part of to let the light in, an anthology published by Sing Lit Station in collaboration with the Asia Pacific Hospice Palliative Care Network. 

​

​

​