Old soldiers
Those mighty oaks
are standing at ease
this afternoon
in the fields around our house.
Relaxing in the sunshine,
murmuring contentedly
amongst themselves
in the gentle breeze.
Nodding sagely at one another,
they shift from foot to foot,
resplendent summer uniforms
rippling green on green
with every languid gesture.
How reassuring to know
they are out there
on guard at all times
and in all weathers.
They deserve a spot of
rest and recreation
once in a while.
Who knows when next
they will be called into action
to fight off a besieging storm.
Remember them last winter,
stripped to the waist,
battling doomsday
with flailing arms.
This is very vivid, I love the image of the oaks as soldiers on guard and their changing appearance through the seasons. I think the strongest lines are those that focus on the trees themselves. The ‘how reassuring’, ‘They deserve’ and ‘Who knows when’ sentences move the focus from trees to poet. Brilliant last four lines!
The metaphor works both ways doesn’t it. Soldiers as oaks and oaks as soldiers. I agree with Robbie about the last four lines.