Poem

Eclogue III

Charles:
I’m tired of your nonchalant attitude; this tree is coming down…

Matthias:
There is no need to raise your voice Charles, I take this very seriously and I think that you’re being too hasty in this decision. You are somehow… misrepresenting the facts and you do not understand Father’s wishes.

Charles:
You are arrogant, Matthias, extremely arrogant.

Matthias:
Charles, please, take a breath. Let’s continue to discuss this. You can’t tear down this tree after a four minute deliberation. You’ve plainly heard Father’s words. I’m sorry if I sound arrogant, but I want you to understand, in the simplest terms, what is intended…

Charles:
You are the master of intentions, are you? We have covered this. The tree is dead or at least dieing. I’m not intending to tear it down but to simply move it along the natural process more quickly. Look at the limbs…

Matthias:
That’s the point that I was going to refute before you interrupted me. The limbs and leaves can be sick while the tree itself is healthy. This tree hasn’t been properly cared for. Bugs are eating the leaves and the late frost sickened the tiny green branches, they can’t handle such an onslaught. Look at the bark; this tree is gloriously healthy, it simply wants of care.

Charles:
You’re a fool. Look at the fruit. My children couldn’t be fed on them; worms would reject such slop.

Matthias:
Charles, it hasn’t been pruned, in who knows how long. If we just prune it, so that there are fewer sickly branches, than the rest will grow strong and thus, the fruit will be more luscious.

Charles:
Matthias, if Father had intended for this tree, so far out on his property, to flourish than he would have cared for it.

Matthias:
I think what he intended was this; for us to talk calmly about it and come to a like-minded solution. That is why He sent us. He cares so much that He sends His own children to ensure the best work, it’s a great responsibility. I have several books and worked with an arborist, many years ago, but I still recall much of what he taught me. We can minister to this tree and with diligent stewardship it will continue to grow and be filled wi…

Charles:
So that’s it, smarty, you intend to “teach” the simpletons, do you? Command me about and order me around?

Matthias:
Of course not. You’ve skills with saw, clippers and axe while I know where to lay the blade to achieve the most effective use of them and achieve what Father always wished for this tree and for us.

Charles:
You are obstinate. That’s a lot of work for an old, no good tree. What if, for all our trimming and pruning, it still crumbles? It is large and in the fall the wind will beat against it and the snow in winter will bend its branches low and break them.

It does not seem worth it. Let us relieve all this tension of the natural order and eliminate it, take it down and build something out of it; something useful.

Matthias:
It was not meant to be so. It is intended to bear fruit. Father will have it pruned one way or another. He will remove you form his employment and send you on your way. He will have the hired man fulfill what is required and the hired man will eat the fruit of it’s labor at our Father’s table.

The tree is tall but the roots are deep. The wind is strong but the limbs are stronger; if we cut away the useless, lifeless branches. The snow is heavy but that is a burden it was meant to bear.

Come Charles…

Charles:
How do you condescend to know Father’s mind so thoroughly?! You arrogant Wretch! You intend on having your own way. I can’t be removed from His service, I am His son…

Matthias:
Yes, yes. How easily you forget our brother Levi!

Charles:
You compare…

Matthias:
How are you acting differently?!

Charles:
…You are an ASS!

Matthias:
Peace, brother, peace. Charles…calm yourself!

Charles:
You order me about! Shall the older brother serve the younger?!

Matthias:
WE together shall serve Father. Our talents complete the plan. We must peacefully reconcile our minds to HIS intent. This is HIS field. Look at the bigger picture. We have for too long quarreled and let our duties relapse his desire into a faint notion. His hand is barely perceived to be at work. The harvest APPEARS to fail, but we must diligently proceed and strengthen the crop of this beautiful tree. We are his workers and we must do what he has called us to do. What has he always intended? Do not think of the modern notions or consider the Almanac, daily with its predictions and suggestions. What has Father always intended for this farm and this tree?

We MUST proceed with his wishes…

Charles:
You are wiser than I. Father intended it so, yes I see it. We are lazy and I do not have a mind for such drawn out plans, but I am willing to work, though I doubt that I am fit for it. What is the best way to proceed?

Matthias:
We are fit; we were born to do it. Let us proceed…MERRILY. You lead in song and we shall clear the lifelessness from our Father’s tree.

Look, even now, there is a bird building a nest in the lower branches. …