Wednesday, May 23, 2018

Grandfather Tree



Grandfather Tree,
through the centuries
you have weathered storms,
arms out, the girth of your trunk,
your tenacious roots,
holding you steady
against the winter winds.

On your crown, you sport
four spires.
It would take six people,
holding hands,
to circle your massive trunk.

I place my hand upon you,
and listen.
Your message is: Endurance.
Ancient cultures
once thrived
 near where you stand.
You watched them live,
then die.

Their descendants saved you
from the saw.
May you watch 
new generations grow.
May your inner core
hold steady.
May small birds 
bless you with song.
May the sweetness
please your ears.

I bow
to your rich history,
your gift of air,
the protection of your 
welcoming branches.
My eyes take you in
like a blessing.
You are my only
cathedral.

I hear your heartbeat.
You speak
the language of the Old Ones,
talking Tree story,
speaking Truth.
May we listen well.


for Sumana's prompt at Midweek Motif: to write a tribute poem.


17 comments:

  1. A beautiful tribute to the Grandfather tree.

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  2. Oh gosh that is such a beautiful grandfather tree, Sherry!💞 Especially love "I hear your heartbeat. You speak the language of the Old Ones, talking Tree story, speaking Truth. May we listen well."💞


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  3. This is my favourite tree, the Hanging Garden Tree on the Tall Tree Trail on Meares Island. I need to vsit this tree again this summer.

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  4. "My eyes take you in
    like a blessing.
    You are my only
    cathedral."

    Really awesome tribute

    Much♥️love

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  5. Great tribute to a great living ancestor. The tree blesses you as you bless it. I loved this poem Sherry.

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  6. great blessing on you and the Grandfather tree... :)

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  7. "You are my only
    cathedral."
    An awesome good choice, given endurance and air and all.

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  8. How precious the trees are for us, let's hope our children's children will be able to breathe the air they make.

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  9. Endurance is such a hard concept for the greedy humans to understand. Sigh. A beautiful tribute Sherry.

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  10. What a beautiful tribute, Sherry! I especially love the line "You are my only cathedral."

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  11. I love this poem, Sherry! Trees deserve tributes. These lines are special:
    'I place my hand upon you,
    and listen.
    Your message is: Endurance.
    Ancient cultures
    once thrived
    near where you stand.
    You watched them live,
    then die'
    and
    'I hear your heartbeat.
    You speak
    the language of the Old Ones,
    talking Tree story,
    speaking Truth.
    May we listen well'.

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  12. the language of the Old Ones,
    talking Tree story,
    speaking Truth.
    May we listen well.

    Only the old and wise takes to the likes of goodness in them. The young misses out, poor thing!

    Hank

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  13. You speak
    the language of the Old Ones,
    talking Tree story,
    speaking Truth.
    May we listen well.... this is like a prayer and I fold my hands along with you.

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  14. What a beautiful specimen. Tragically trees of this age are lucky to survive.Most have been destroyed for development

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  15. This ode is timely as we battle to save the trees. May we continue to respect them.

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  16. 'you are my only cathedral'

    Gorgeous, Sherry!

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  17. Endurance. I fear that mine is flagging, but I'm heartened nonetheless by the message from Grandfather Tree.

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