The Maple's Lament

When I was alive, the birds would nest upon my bows,
And all through long winter nights the storms would ground me how
And when the day would call I’d raise my branches to the sun,
I was the child of earth and sky and all the world was one.

But now that I am dead, the birds no longer singing me
I feel no more the wind and rain, as when I was a tree.
But bound so tight in wire strings I have no room to grow
And I am but a slave who sings when master draws the bowl.

But sometimes, from my memories, I can see the birds in fly
And I can sing of sweet dark earth and endless starry nights.
But oh, my favorite song of all I truly do believe
Is the song that sunlight sang to me while dancing on my leaves.