The Tree - mauriceling/mauriceling.github.io GitHub Wiki

On moistened moss pit lies a seed
It may be a beautiful deed
Of the thousands that scattered
Perhaps only one has roots gathered
Some may reach the sky
Some may wilt and die
Most will run their average years
Filled with bouts of laughter and tears

A seed in the ground it sprout
Forty and four roll in rout
Nourished by long wavy streams
Also a boulevard of broken dreams
One in ten bears fruition
The journey its own realization
Perhaps nothing is broken and waste
Composing to nutritious paste

Yours may be a banyan fig
While mine may be a mesh of crawling twig
Nurtured by decisions and cross roads
Executing each branch of source codes
Will I have done any differently
Resulting in disparate consequently
For the information and options known
I cannot see myself changing different anchor stone

Each seed may have a different genetics
Not something easily malleable to kinetics
I have my unique set of quirk
Yielding an idiosyncratic framework
Shuttling between teaching and research
Yet not wanting the ivory perch
This shapes my oddly pruned canopy
It is a somewhat melodious balcony

Twenty years of hard work past
Another twenty in its forecast
Now I have reached the tipping point
Starting the harvest from this joint
Behind littered with seeds and toll
Ahead lies uncompleted duties and roll
So far I have walked this route
Only to continue along with little doubt

The tree has started to bear some fruits
Along with delicious vegetable roots
Each day can finally start with a smile
And gradually living a little more freestyle
Doing irrational things once in a while
Reliving my inner bibliophile
Maintaining inner peace by meditation
Drop by drop to becoming an exhilaration

There have been many mistakes made
And many requiring more than first aid
There will always be broken branches
Some fruits ends up as insects’ lunches
All are experiences of life
Agarwood form from damaging strife
Everyone has episodes of taint
For we are far from being saint

Hope the canopy can provide some shelter
For animals and seedlings against the swelter
Somehow entrust as eldest and first born
Over time certainly tired and worn
I will do what I will with remaining time
Lemonade with honey and lime
For I am this tree
Time has come to be carefree
— 15/03/23