The Hanging Garden Tree
Tall Tree Trail, Meares Island
Tofino, B.C.
Forests are peopled with trees.
From babies to wise old Grandfather Cedar,
all are in a state of
Becoming, Growing, Enduring.
Much like us.
Listen to the song of this old tree,
and he will teach you
how to live.
He will whisper to you
of roots and tree-tops, earth and sky,
and of your inter-connection
to All That Is.
He will tell you the secret
of how to live in harmony
with the natural world,
with respect, nurturing life,
doing no harm.
Breathing out, breathing in.
Being Peace.
Like a tree.
When the west wind croons
through his branches
and the riversong joins in,
listen to their song
and remember:
We are air.
We are water.
We are trees.
of roots and tree-tops, earth and sky,
and of your inter-connection
to All That Is.
He will tell you the secret
of how to live in harmony
with the natural world,
with respect, nurturing life,
doing no harm.
Breathing out, breathing in.
Being Peace.
Like a tree.
When the west wind croons
through his branches
and the riversong joins in,
listen to their song
and remember:
We are air.
We are water.
We are trees.
For Grace's prompt at dVerse: Ecopoetry. My fave kind!
That is the kind of harmony we need... trees are our friends... yet we see them with carpenter eyes, we measure and analyze.. and forest is just productivity .. yes we should listen to them
ReplyDeleteYou had me floored with your opening lines :D such a magnificent write.
ReplyDeleteLots of love,
Sanaa
I love this. You know I am a literal tree hugger and how I love my trees and visit and listen to them daily. This is such a wise poem - perfect example - it shines.
ReplyDeleteI very much like the parallel that you draw between the tree and us humans. I've always found them to be an important metaphor for us. I have such a great love of trees too. We lost a maple this year to borers and it hurt to see her have to come down.
ReplyDeleteI hear the trees, often they sing, sometimes they cry.
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful.
Yes. Yes. And YES. So much this. I love the Tao of trees. They have so much to whisper. I am listening...
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sherry.
Sherry, this is near perfect rocking of the prompt, not a whiff of politics (something I find eco-difficult to do). You had me at /All That Is/ my preferred reference to godheads & nature. What lives more gently magnificent than trees? Nothing. And here we are clear cutting & throwing lit cigarettes into them.
ReplyDeleteLove the listening and prayerful ending of:
ReplyDeleteWe are air.
We are water.
We are trees.
You rock this prompt effortlessly Sherry ~ Thanks for joining us ~
The last two stanzas are especially gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteWe can learn so much from the old tree. I wonder why we have for so long resisted listening.
ReplyDeleteOf course you would write something beautiful for such a pompt. I felt like I was there being and breathing. Thank you for this one Sherry.
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree, we need to learn to listen to the trees and to all of nature. Suzanne of Art and Life
ReplyDeleteBeautiful description and world needs to listen to this .
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful...and with that photo, I want to visit Torino more than ever. It's been to long since I've been on the Island.
ReplyDeleteso beautiful...
ReplyDeleteThis prompt was a natural for you, Sherry. You speak like the native human that you are. I'm so inspired.
ReplyDeletei listen to the song we hear when the wind croons through the fingers of those wondrous arboreal reminders of how we, the wolf, the eagle, living by and perching on are connected to this natural gift called earth.
ReplyDeletegracias for reminding us how our souls are one with this spirit
Yes - we are trees!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely adore the last two stanzas!
ReplyDeleteI've always loved looking at trees -- they seem so human...especially when their large gnarled roots are above the ground...I can always just picture them lifting up their "feet" and dancing away! :)
This is why I'm lamenting the loss of the forest right behind my house.
ReplyDeleteThis is extremely beautiful. ..I love trees....you have so well penned it....may the world read..
ReplyDeleteThis is extremely beautiful. ..I love trees....you have so well penned it....may the world read..
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely piece, Sherry! I love it.
ReplyDeleteOh the wisdom trees hold...leafed limbs are my sanctuary. Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI was transported by your words, to a beautiful place, full of wise trees. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteOh Sherry!! This type of poetry is so natural for you...this poem breathes of deep wisdom and peace. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThis shows so much concern and love for the trees. And that tree trail looks interesting too!
ReplyDeleteAh.. so true..
ReplyDeletePeople are trees..
arboreal tree dwellers
are uS.. climbing trees
in uNion.. esCaping
predators capturRinG
prey.. raiSinG our
arms iN grasp
of liFe.. sadly
arms fall to
sides now..
iN human
fAlls Now
leaves
iN
BeinG..:)
that crooning whisper - most of us never hear it. But it is there. Reminds me of the biblical "footprints". :)
ReplyDeleteI love how everything comes alive and is respected in your gentle hands xo
ReplyDelete"When the west wind croons
ReplyDeletethrough his branches
and the riversong joins in,"
Beautifully said.
we are - but so many people believe we are not... ~
ReplyDelete