At night

I saw a tree

Fighting against a formidable storm

Literally fighting for its life

It sent its roots

Deep into the ground

Tightened the muscles of its trunk

And with branches madness

Waved its arms

As if trying to scare it away

...And so it stood

Hour after hour

Facing the horrible winds

And not for one moment gave up hope or surrendered

And when morning light came

I saw it standing there in its place

Leaf-plucked

And filled with pride
 

                                                       September 29, 2022

From "One-Time" by Eyran Katsenelenbogen

(translated from Hebrew)