Tree Of Love

Allow me to take you back
To a time where I have been
Way back in the mists of youth
To a time when I was fourteen
Jennifer was my first love
She lived just off my street
And though I never told her so
She made my heart skip a beat
It wasn’t as though she was extra special
Though she was so special to me
A creature so full of love
Such grace and dignity
We used to walk each other home
Every day just after school
So many times I wanted to bear my heart
So scared I’d look a fool
I can’t remember how I did it
Just how I asked her out
But I’m glad I don’t regret it
I have never had a doubt
We started dating casually
But we both could feel the spark
Took a walk down lovers lane
That led us to the park
We came upon that old oak tree
And decided to make our mark
I took the penknife from my pocket
Carved our names deep into the bark
It kind of signified our closeness
So we sealed it with a kiss
Swore to each other if we ever part
We would always remember this
And if ever either of us was lonesome
Or feeling down in heart
We could come back to our tree of love
In the middle of the park
We made it through the summer months
And split up in early fall
But it was only recently
Our promise I did recall

Continued:
I was feeling down in myself
So I decided to return
As I walked down lovers lane
I felt my stomach churn
It made me smile when I thought of this
Never felt like that for years
I’m not exactly that teenage boy
Who was still wet behind the ears
In the park I walked the path
Towards where the old oak stood
As I came nearer to the tree
Memories of you were a flood
Walking up to the trunk
I couldn’t believe my eyes
Carved in the bark a thousand lovers names
Our tree constantly baptized
It took me a while to find our names
As carvings were around and above
I realised then this was not our shrine
It was every ones tree of love