Ancient One

You lean with exhausted posture,
Your skin replete with weathered crack,
You have borne the winds of change,
With resoluteness in your back.
You're both scruffy and full of life,
You grasp at the crumbling earth,
You have had to fight for your existence,
Since the moment of your birth.
You rejoice at the sun's touch,
You sigh under the intermittent rain,
You shelter those who wish it,
For no hope of material gain.
You take a little from what's around,
But give for all to see,
You are there and I appreciate you,
You noble, ancient tree.

We have some gnarled old bottlebrush tree close to the house. Their bark looks like gnarled elephant skin. They inspired this poem.