ITS BRANCHES WERE STRONG AND INTERWOVEN,
AND FOR CHRIST'S CROSS ITS TIMBERS WERE CHOSEN.
BEING DISTRESSED AT THE USE OF THIS WOOD
CHRIST MADE A PROMISE WHICH STILL HOLDS GOOD.
NOT EVER AGAIN SHALL THE DOGWOOD GROW TO BE,
LARGE ENOUGH FOR SUCH A TREE.
SO SLENDER AND TWISTED IT SHALL ALWAYS BE,
WITH CROSS SHAPED BLOSSOMS FOR ALL TO SEE.
THE PETALS SHALL HAVE BLOODSTAINS MARKED IN BROWN,
AND IN THE BLOSSOM'S CENTER A THORNY CROWN.
ALL WHO SEE IT WILL THINK OF ME,
NAILED TO A CROSS FROM A DOGWOOD TREE.
PROTECTED AND CHERISHED THIS TREE SHALL BE,
A REFLECTION TO ALL OF MY AGONY.