Willow tree

Across the street and beyond the old willow tree there is a
house.
It's old and could do with repair, it's mainly wood which is unusual as
most houses are made of brick around here. The garden is almost
abandoned and hasn't been cut for a long time. The bushes and trees are
climbing everywhere and the only reason they haven't spread to the tree
is because of me. I go out there and cut the edges of that garden and
cut back some of the plants to stop them from touching that tree.
The house is so old that i often worry what will happen if the weather
gets rough. Will a storm blow the ramshackle building to pieces. The
house isn't empty, an old man lives there. He sometimes comes out when
i cut the garden back shouting at me to get off his property. I don't
really mind sometimes if he gets really upset i leave but i think now
he just accepts me. I've never had a conversation with him, i don't
think i ever will. He's very skinny but tall and he walks like a young
man. I know that sounds strange but he's clearly very old and his voice
has that raspy manner of someone who should be respected. He has
gnarled hands that he shakes at me in a fist as he shouts in that
voice. His clothes are well kept which is also strange as i never see
him leave. I don't know how he eats either, in the winter time when the
grass stops growing i don't need to cut it back from the street. I
don't need to help the willow tree and i never cross the street until
spring time returns.
All the winter long that man never leaves that house. The house with
broken windows and boarded up doorways. The house that never has a
light turned on at night. In fact i don't think he has any electricity
in the house probably doesn't have any plumbing either. I won't go say
hello though and i won't invite him round for dinner. In the winter
time he must freeze as the cold harsh wind cuts through the walls of
that shack of a house. Still it isn't my fault if he want's help he can
ask. I'll still go cut the grass back and try to save that willow tree.
I'll go across and cut the grass right now in fact...i'll tell you what
i see...

I went to cut the grass back

I went to help that tree

I went to cut the grass back

And the old man i did see

He told me 'bout the willow

he told me 'bout that tree

and now i understand

there is no mystery

Underneath the willow

Underneath that tree

Lies his one true love

his wife from history

He stays there in that house

He stays nearby the tree

He'll stay until he dies

and he doesn't want help from me

I will not cut the grass back

I will not help that tree

I will leave well alone

That man with misery

When the grass meets that tree

He says he will be happy

When the grass meets the tree

He will meet with history