Trees...within a shell...

Trees

within a shell as weary and wizened as yours

as streaked with the rain's tears

split by the coming and going of

summer and winter

gouged by the ravages of insect

and illness

my heartwood expands

each ring a story

each layer a weight

that roots me more firmly

to this spot

　

no longer bearing fruit

but rather tidings

admonishments

which is what old things do

I stand much as you

biding what time is left me

fade into a landscape

of new things new dreams

and whatever else

a new generation reaches for

　

that has nothing to do with stars

or sunlight or moons

etched with the shadows of branches

and leaves that burst forth in spring

singing a green song

a song without words

that I play

over and over again

even in sleep

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

Trees...unless we were there...

Trees...

　

...unless we were there when you first took hold

on some dark night not far beneath the soil's surface

when whatever seed produced you split open

revealing all its truths the promise of root and crown

introduced you to the world we can't know

how long you lived how long you held birds

in your arms made space for tree houses

or sheltered lovers from spring rains

thrilled us with myriad greens in summer

and riots of red orange and gold in autumn

　

we can't know this fact irrelevant

as it is in most cases for why should we care

how old you are or how long it took you to get there

where you stood with others who made it

the struggle the merciless winds you bore the ice

that threatened to do you in several times

it only makes it all the harder to bear when they

finally do away with you leaving

just a stump all that's left of what you were

　

I remember a pine tree whose layers

from its heartwood out

numbered close to a hundred and how

I stood there bent over it knowing how long

it had taken it to get there and how quick its demise

painless unless you allow how fickle Time is

how quick to unravel all that she has pushed along

to the here and the now toward some culmination

that means nothing

I did not thrill to that

　

but then when you are gone

we know don't we

we count rings run our fingers lovingly and respectfully

across your damp remains your uncharacteristic flatness

where once stood lushness and character

and say things like "ah" and "oh"

and marvel that we can do it

forgetting all that you once did for us

all that you once were

　

even in death you do this much for us

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

Trees...and there it appears...

One day the trees went out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Be our king.’ But the olive tree answered, ‘Should I give up my oil, by which both gods and humans are honored, to hold sway over the trees?’ Next, the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and be our king.’ But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I give up my fruit, so good and sweet, to hold sway over the trees?’ Then the trees said to the vine, ‘Come and be our king.’ But the vine answered, ‘Should I give up my wine, which cheers both gods and humans, to hold sway over the trees?’ Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and be our king.’ The thornbush said to the trees, ‘If you really want to anoint me king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, then let fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon!’ Judges 9: 8-15

　

Trees

 

 

　

and there it appears

lost in a sea of verses

the inevitable mention of you

who are second only to the gods

in wisdom

even they saw fit to use you

in parables

make of you allegorical

sentient

knowing beings

weeping ever

through your leaves.

　

how many other weavers

of words

have given you voice

shape substance

worth mystery

longevity?

　

fools we are

to think

you merely stand there mute

disinterested

consenting to be

stripped bare each year

knowing in your heartwood

that you will be called

to even greater glory

when the peepers sing

and the days once more

grow long.

　

kings all

serving no one

your place at his right hand

assured

the ancient entish among you

smiling

who have known

all along.

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

Trees....it has come to this...

Trees

it has come to this

long knowing that today

is all we have

for tomorrow will mark

the end

of your sojourn on this earth

of your towering over this place

of your watching

your waiting

for what you knew

would surely come

someday

and now it is that

someday

the day when I compose

a dirge that I will sing

silently

as pieces of you are

taken away

pieces of me

as year by year

falls away from you

from us

from your bark

your flesh

your boughs

your arms

your heartwood

your very soul

but you will hear

you will hear

and for you

for us

I will sing

silently

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