"Roots & Wings" Hand Embellished Canvas Print

When I first found you,
you were small enough
to fit inside the trembling cradle of my hands.

The little tree in the yard looked much the same.
Thin branches.
Sparse leaves.
A body trying its best
against the wind.

And I remember wondering
how something survives
when it begins life already tired.

But the years passed quietly,
rain working through those weary roots,
remembering every drop of sustenance.

Over the years, the tree
stretched itself wider
toward the sun.

You unfolded beside me the same way.

But time, you see, was only borrowed.
Your small heart could no longer remain here.
The oak welcomed you
like a long lost friend.

I laid you beneath that tree,
inside the same earth
that had spent years teaching us both
how to grow.

It grows and grows,
endlessly toward the sky,
alive with grief,
alive with love,
its roots holding you still.

This painting is dedicated to my lovebird Marley that crossed the rainbow bridge. You'll always be part of my heart, and through this piece, your memory will keep blooming. If you've loved someone so deeply that saying goodbye felt like losing a piece of yourself, I hope you see them somewhere in this painting too.