Tree Of Life

Just short while past

  I cherished autumn’s throes,

Now winter’s chill

  Gnaws at body and soul,

Fuels inner qualms,

  Well-known killers of dreams,

And weaves grim web,

  As-cold-as-death in shadows,

Till hope’s showers

  Of light and warm embrace

Make my heart whole.

  Rejoice...I thrive once more.

© Ilija Lukić 2026

Hope and growth are mutually linked. Hope provides the vision and growth the capacity to achieve it. When I meander through forest leaf litter on this first day anno Domini 2026, hope springs eternal. The kaleidoscope of leaves and coarse woody debris speak volumes about growth, hope, beauty of individual differences and perpetual renewal—the tree of life.

Hope Springs Eternal

Forest duff near Mary Holmes Park, Pittsboro NC