The Oak and the Woodcutter

In a forest so thick you couldn't see through it—like, even if you squinted—there was a Mountain Oak. This tree was the biggest and coolest tree you could ever imagine, like the superhero of trees!

"Do you have room for one more squirrel?" asked a young squirrel.

"Sure, just climb on up! I've got branches like a playground," answered the Oak, chuckling. "Get it? I'm so tall, I can touch the clouds!"

Then one day, a woodcutter came along. He looked at the Mountain Oak like it was a giant treasure chest.

"Ooh, you're gonna make me rich!" he said, rubbing his hands like he was about to eat the biggest sandwich ever.

The woodcutter swung his axe, and—SMASH! The Oak tumbled over with a sound so loud it was like a drum in a band!

"Whoa! I've fallen, and I can't get up!" said the Oak, trying to lighten the mood. "Do you think I could be a nice coffee table?"

But the woodcutter didn't laugh. Instead, he started using the Oak's own branches to cut it into smaller pieces.

"Wait a sec, you're using my own branches to cut me up? That's like using my own hands to tickle me!" said the Oak.

With each hit of the axe, the Oak felt more and more like it was breaking into little pieces, just like a cookie crumbling.

"Oh man," said the Oak, "I've been through rain, wind, and even some really silly squirrel games. You should've seen those acorn fights! But this, getting cut up by pieces of me? That's really, really weird."

The woodcutter didn’t say anything; he was too busy turning the Oak into firewood.

"But hey," said the Oak, "if you're turning me into something useful, maybe make a few bookshelves? Give the kids something to read? 'Cause, you know, 'Knowledge is power,' and power grows trees. Well, maybe not this tree, but you get the idea."

Even in its demise, the Mountain Oak remained a beacon of snark and wisdom. Torn apart by its own branches, but still keeping it together in spirit—or should I say, in 'tree-spirit?'

Once there stood a Mountain Oak so grand,
Taller than all, in a woodland band.
Birds nestled high and squirrels would play,
On its strong branches, day after day.

Then came a man, with an axe so sharp,
He eyed the Oak, ready to start.
With every swing, the Oak felt a tear,
And soon it fell, its end drawing near.

The man took its branches, strong and neat,
Made them into wedges, swift and fleet.
With every hit, the Oak felt a sting,
As it was split by its very own wing.

“I braved the storms, the rains, and the gust,”
Whispered the Oak, in a voice so just.
“Yet it's not the axe's cut that I dread,
But the pain of being split by what I once led."

Though in its last, the Oak showed its might,
Bearing all with grace, in the dimming light.
A tale of courage, of spirit so grand,
Of the Mountain Oak in that forest land.