Long, long ago, way before I was born

My great, great grandfather planted an acorn

He wrote a little letter to his future relatives

For them to promise to nurture and protect it so it lives

Many years later when the tree had fully grown

There came a raging fire that destroyed my family's home

The tree escaped damage and my family rebuilt

Just like the tree so strong they flourished, grew and didn't wilt

In my mid twenties the new house was left to me

Along with the letter with the promise about the tree

I married, had children and they would often play

Underneath the tree's shade on a hot sunny day

Then came disaster after a day that had been warm

The weather changed dramatically and brought along a storm

Two days the tree withstood the storm, it took a battering

We cried as we watched the leaves blow off and the branches shattering

There was nothing we could do at all to save the tree that day

Except to hope the storm subsided, all we could do was pray

Alas our prayers went unanswered and on the third day it did fall

I had a bright idea so my friend the carpenter I did call

I explained to him my idea and he quickly set to work

He grafted for two weeks or more and certainly didn't shirk

When he finished he'd crafted the whole family

Something to cherish from our beautiful oak tree

He made shelves into a tree shape and made us all pledge

To fill them full of books and make a tree full of knowledge