A Poem On The Present Of A Tree For You (Cheerful Poem 1)

I was researching author quotations of the day for my Quotation Diary and was looking at poet Shelley. The poem I recognized from my school days was Ozymandias, apparently about a ruined statue of the king better known to us by the name Ramsses. The poem was possibly written to celebrate the forthcoming exhibition of Egyptian statues in London.  But when I saw the two poems written by Shelley and his friend and friendly competitor poet Smith, I started to update the poems into modern language, then decided to rewrite the poem more positively.

A poem on the present of a tree for you
by Angela Lansbury

Ozymandias? I lèave his statue, move quickly on

Why should I care for him? He would not care for me!

Don’t waste time with one who ruled by fear and slavery 

I thank my family I live elsewhere and free

I see his statue, turn my book’s page

Glimpse highs and lows through endless eternity

Memories of last night’s darker age

Teach me to see how good all brief life should be

I’d rather leave a pretty poem with a message for the passer-by

Don’t stop and stare, nor sigh and mope

March on and work, and live and laugh

Be like me, creative, happy, full of hope

Our future’s a sweet baby 

You’re dear friends I shall never see

But I'd rather plan to leave olives, dates, grapes, wine and shade

So for you I’ve planted vines, plums, pears, coconut palms - and pruned this apple tree.
-ends-
To my son and possible grandchildren