Under the Redwoods...

Cherry

By Penny4athought

Wed, 15 Jul 2020
  • 2233 reads
10 comments
 

My hand upon it; I feel its warmth; its rough bark is pliant under my hand. I feel the breeze as the branches above move with the wind. I look up and smile as a lone leaf drifts down onto my shoulder.

It is beauty; it is alive. It stands tall and proud and timeless and breathes life for us.

I have always felt an affinity with trees. I dont know why but standing among them, I am calmed. What it is about these towering, natural companions I cannot say; I only know I feel safe and comforted when I rest against their base. The birds must feel it too for they build their homes upon its branches.

These sentinels welcome me in every season.Their new leaves wave at me in the Spring. Their full, green canopies provide cool shade on a warm, summer's day.

In Fall, their leaves rain down into fiery pools of color we're meant to walk through. In winter, the winds shake their branches bare but these sentries are undeterred; defying the greyest, stormiest skies, they proudly define resilience.  

These giants of bark and leaf bring serenity to my soul as I walk among the redwoods and listen to their soft hello.

Certificate 12
Poem
Nature

Comments

Submitted by Jude O'Flynn on

The line length and subject matter remind me of Walt Whitman. And may I say I love the American use of 'fall' for autumn. Surely we should desribe spring as 'rise'?

 

Submitted by Penny4athought on

A lovely compliment indeed- Walt Witman? Thank you so much - you've truly made my day brighter!smiley

Penny4athought

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

This is such a relaxing read Penny. Where would we be without those beuatiful trees? I was there with you walking amongst those giant Red Wood Pines.

Very much enjoyed and thank you for sharing.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Penny4athought on

Thank you Jenny - I know  we love walking in nature as I have loved reading your stories and poems about your treks as well. Thank you for your lovely comment too.smiley

Penny4athought

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

They're such majestic trees - and you have really done them justice here - thank you Penny4

 

Submitted by Penny4athought on

Thank you insert- they are the oldest of the tree spirits and I hope we will do them justice by always preserving them. smiley

Penny4athought

Submitted by Penny4athought on

Thank you kindly Eds for the cherries...smiley

Penny4athought

Submitted by Di_Hard on

This was a lovely, comforting read, I really like : "It is beauty; it is alive. It stands tall and proud and timeless…and breathes life for us."

Did you go to the ones they have on nature programmes, so huge it takes a dozen steps to walk round? Can't imagine being near a tree so big and old but your wrtiting helps :0) 

 

Submitted by Penny4athought on

Hello Di- Yes, these amazing Redwoods can live supposedly thousands of years- imagine all the history they see- I spent my honeymoon in Hawaii and on Maui there were redwoods planted in the nation parks. The CA. Sequoia Nationl Forest is where my son went on vacation and took some amazing photos at the base of the tallest trees next to the largest tree trunks I'd ever seen. However, here in Florida we don’t have any Redwoods.The tallest trees are the pines and palms but also in Northern Florida I have Oaks and Maples and willows too. I have a Live Oak in my backyard and it is fifty years old now and can live to 500, not too shabby a life span. I also have a laurel Oak in front of my house and it too is near fifty yrs old but a laurel oak has a life span of only around 75 years so I will sadly lose this friend someday- as you can tell I love them all- all trees- all of nature is important to me.

Penny4athought

Submitted by Mark Burrow on

This is lovely. Really enjoyed its pace and elegance.