Once upon a Time in Japan part 2

and sooner or later I will have to migrate from this part of the wood where we are."

Matsuo shivered and looked at the tree.
The tree knew. Her branches in a tremor,
said it all to him.

The next day saw Matsuo early out of bed.
There was no one to question him about his intent
He stepped out looking all flushed and red,
with the knowledge in his heart of the dark portent.

He carried all the money stored in the pot,
and that day he stepped out without the axe.
With each new step he walked on the road
his heart grew stronger like a man who lacks
all fear and goes to his target with a single dart.

He knew those merchants who traded the tree
for timber hard and Matsuo knew what worked with them
was money in their hand, like gold in a silver platter.
He asked them for the price of his tree
and offered them twice what they asked.

The road back home was now brisk and light.
As he neared his tree on his way back home,
he stopped and lingered awhile, without a fright,
his heart at peace and his world all bright,
At the foot of his beloved Pine.

He touched the leaves tenderly.
A tremor ran through the Pine.
If it was a woman he would fain have kissed
and laid at rest the fear that ran through the helpless being.

The sap of life could be felt
by his fingers gently moving through the leaves,
so mighty was the upsurge and so eloquent was its body
speaking the language of its heart.

Matsuo smiled a gentle smile
as if to say that he knew it all.
But a greater surprise awaited his day
at the threshold of his humble hut.