Written almost two years ago, but posted today in honor of Earth Day. May you find your own tree and your own truth. Hug a tree today, pick up some trash, recycle, buy organic food, donate to an organization, turn off a light, ride your bicycle rather than your car, pledge to make every day earth day.
I am a tree
you have inspired me
the deep breathing
the practiced word
you started me on a voyage
of mindfulness
of mediation
you said to change my story
and I have.
I mediate
and then the words come to me
and I start to return
pen to paper.
I am a tree.
I started with a valley oak
-large stable –
leaves of green
My father
the lover of trees
and then my mother
a transplanted tree
from the Midwest
you missed the changing leaves of the fall
the artist’s eye
inspiring color.
I am a tree
apple
gravenstein
growing in the yard
of my childhood home
tall
before they decided that
fruit trees should be dwarf
and another
golden delicious now gone
my childhood.
But I landed here,
I planted trees
fruit, pear, apple, lemon, persimmon
some survive
others don’t
like my own branches
the ways I grow
some thrive
become more real
words on the
page
claiming writer
striving towards the goal
energy
love
persistence
and my family my children
my heart
my soul
what are your trees
where will you
put roots?
Know that you always
have a place in my garden
in my forest
in my heart.
My husband
beside me
loving trees
green
leaf
tall strong slender
growing
together,
can we join our wood?
hold tight
there are more seasons
to come
wrapping us in their snow
their sun
their rain
the dripping fog and the wind
but we stay strong together
you and I
I am a tree and you are my forest.