Family tree

by Bill Condon

The mother was a ghost gum,

a really terrific tree-mum.

The father was a noble oak,

a shining prince of tree-dom.

You’d think with a family tree like that,

the offshoot would have to be a winner.

Instead he was a toothpick,

who lived in fear of dinner.

• Submitted in response to Poetry Prompt #2

Bill says: I wrote this years ago when I was very silly. Nothing’s changed.