Within the forest there was a Tree
The young pine grew tall and proud, but lopsided
It’s roots grasping through the moss and rocks near the shore of a small lake
The Tree had everything it needed and was happy

Some days, the Wind wound itself through the forest and whispered to the Tree
It shared secrets from exotic and far away places
Other times, it told stories about funny little people
Who who lived in metal forests

The Tree loved listening, vicariously relishing the new experiences
and the Wind loved sharing them, but always had somewhere else to be
Winding its way through the Tree's many green needles with a muted hush
Despite knowing it could never visit these far off places, the Tree was happy

One day, a bear scratched its back against the Tree
The tangled roots and rocks and moss shifted
And the weight of the bear broke something loose
With a mighty crash, the Tree toppled onto the forest floor

No longer reaching tall and proud, the Tree lay flat
It could only hear faint whispers from the Wind as it passed by above
Only the soft hush of it’s secrets moving through the forest's many other green needles
The Tree was lonely, but still, over time, the Tree was happy

Because, on the forest floor, Moss and Mushrooms prickled the Tree's bark
They were quiet and slow, but had stories of their own
They spoke of growth, progress, legacy and life far beyond
Of crunchy leaves and the small animals who ran up and down the Tree’s trunk

As the Tree settled into the forest floor, it learned something new
The Tree found that, in falling, it brought great joy to many new friends
It could no longer hear the wind hush secrets far above, and that was OK
It had new stories to listen to, and the tree was happy

Over time, the Tree became more moss than bark
It's prickly needles replaced with soft green fur
Instead of growing up toward the sky
It was spreading out across the forest floor

Working with Moss and Mushroom
the Tree learned to puff spores into the air
Floating weightlessly far up and above the forest
The Tree finally saw how large and vast the world was

Then came a gentle breeze

The Wind had returned
It swept up and embraced the Tree with a big swirl of a hug
And a new adventure began in an unfamiliar world

The Tree found the Wind carrying hundreds of others
Thousands of stories and experiences soaring in the air
And as they wound through grass and clouds and funny little people
They whispered their stories to those that choose to listen

And the Tree was happy