the tree

by walter w johnson iii

if the apple never falls from the tree if the bear never shakes the tree if the cat never chases the mouse if the dog never chases the cat if the elephant forgets if the frog never croaks at the princess if the gorilla never pounds his chest if the heart never breaks if i never conquer the world if the joker never gets a laugh if the king never saves his kingdom if the lion never roars if the moon is never lonesome if the nightingale never sings if the orange is never squeezed if the panther never pounces on the pilgrim if the queen never smiles in her quiet room if the rabbit never runs down the road if the saint is never lost in the forest if the turtle never sleeps in a hollow log if uncle harry never finishes his story if victory is never assured if the walrus never waves goodbye if expectation is never rewarded if youth is not served if the zebra loses his stripes if adam never finds eve what is to be believed? put a candle in the window to dispel the darkness everything will end unless it is saved forever