MCALLEN – One lone tree stands tall surrounded by encroaching progress along the expressway in west McAllen.

In one of her poems, Joyce Kilmer wrote, “I think that I shall never see a poem lovely as a tree.” The poem was published in 1913.

In an area of west McAllen, progress is just feet away but one tree continues to fight the odds.

It appears someone also liked the tree enough that while the rest of the surrounding area was cleared of all brush and other trees, it was left to stand.

Perhaps it’s because it’s one of the few symbols of a giant Christmas tree in the Rio Grande Valley.

And with that in mind, a Christmas ornament was placed to help decorate the tree. After all 'tis the season.

It isn’t known how old the tree might be, but it still represents something to the Valley.

There are signs that progress is inching closer though. This is prime expressway property after all, and whether people admit it or not, everyone enjoys moving forward.

Maybe fate will step in and somehow the tree will remain.

But after all, a tree is a tree is a tree, but maybe somehow the giant will continue to be.

You can catch Con Mi Gente segments Tuesdays and Thursdays on CHANNEL 5 NEWS THIS MORNING and CHANNEL 5 NEWS at 5.