Trees...how little we know...

Trees



how little we

know

of what you do

how few

the thanks

we offer you

as we pass

oblivious

to the coolness

in your deeper parts

that costs nothing

but is everything

to those of us

who need the

air you clean

the water

to quench

our children's thirst

to banish winter

bring us through

spring

and summer

to that place

of color

as you ease into

fullness

as green gives way

to crimson

yellow

gold

as your hunger wanes

and you look

toward your

long rest

when your song

will soften

to a whisper

https://www.amazon.com/Rachel-Lovejoy/e/B00JJ259DS

　

Trees...now that the rain...

Trees

                                                                now that the rain

has had its way

with you

and washed you clean

you put the jeweler to shame

with your brilliance

for no emerald

sings the way your leaves sing

no cut glass

splits the light

as do your eyes that have looked

upon us these many years now

stumbling across your roots

where you began

where you continue

for

what need have we

of anything beyond you

you who though old

are ever young

alive in your transpiration

blessing young ones

springing from

the earth at your feet

your legacy

among the grass

that aspires to your

greenness.

https://www.amazon.com/Rachel-Lovejoy/e/B00JJ259DS

Trees...I heard you whisper...

Trees

I heard you whisper
last night
amongst yourselves
and early this morning
at daylight
your sighs
mingling with the hiss
of tires
on pavement
whispers that held words
wonderings
at the space
empty now
where your ancient one
had stood
your breath tremulous
precluding tears
I heard as rain.
You talked too
about who would
take its place
to shelter starlings
during storms
about which of you
would rise to the occasion
before the sun rose
ending the conversation
with no one
the wiser.




https://www.amazon.com/Rachel-Lovejoy/e/B00JJ259DS

Trees...you weep today...

Trees

                you weep today
for the passing of a friend
ancient and loyal
it stood

for what might have been
forever
cheered your birth from the soil
sheltered you from wind
and sun
then held you

let go at just the right

time
as you learned to walk
through the pages of our thoughts
and experiences
explored the process
of becoming the
thing that screams
nature
the loudest
as fodder for our poems


Long after this rain
you will weep
for the great space
left open by its passing
the vines that embraced it
lost now along the fence
frightened clinging
wondering what happened
and why they weren't told
of the sentence imposed
on their innocent

https://www.amazon.com/Rachel-Lovejoy/e/B00JJ259DS

Tree...I mourn your passing...

Tree

I mourn your passing
urged on by dirges
wailed by saws
and other human
devices
that sent slices of you
to the earth
that waits
knowing it all ends there
where all is made swift work of
where more of you reside

Birds fled
clouds parted
each blade of grass bowed its head
and I stood
my spirit spent at
your demise not written anywhere

but on my soul

https://www.amazon.com/Rachel-Lovejoy/e/B00JJ259DS

Tree...did you see...



Tree

did  you see the man approaching

with that look

in his eye

that look

that spoke of fire on a cold night

a new shelf in his workshop

shavings for the woman's

flower beds?

Did you know it would hurt

to have the years

cut from you that way

no blood

trees don't bleed

but they weep.

I've heard them.

Might I have heard you

that day

before the thud

the sound

a tree makes

as it

meets its Maker?

https://www.amazon.com/Rachel-Lovejoy/e/B00JJ259DS