Connecting With Trees

Cherry

By skinner_jennifer

Sun, 28 Apr 2024
  • 969 reads
16 comments
 

To look back on sweet but brief

tranquil days, when made for

soulful pleasures; passage of

silence gratifying the restless mind,

and I will give these treasures meaning.

 

Greenery conveys your majestic

beauty bestowed upon each stem

you've furnished with cones, where

pigeons balance within shadowed

foliage; beating wings with

demonstrative expression;

 

you stoutly defend your familiars

stirring growth. What happens in

places of repose: when no muffled

voices are heard? Do the trees of

life assume command?

 

Did you pursue each newcomer

with outstretched branches,

knowing duty to integrate all; from

youngest to oldest...even when

irritated by occasional squirrel?

They too have their longings and

desires.

 

When gusts with force swept you

in a wild dance that night, your

centre with vulnerability shaken to

the core – like myself on that

inevitable day, you too had an

unavoidable fall.

 

Arboreal creatures grasp secret

triggers to be unlocked, wildly they

have no need for studying the arts,

or want to be seen where there's no

undergrowth; that's the significant

difference we humans overlook.

 

I will always see your dignified

beauty in that now empty space,

inspiring summers dreamy days;

when hypnotized by those tiny

flies that circled as I lay, with just

the glistening rays sparkling

between leaves, chasing all my

cares away.

 

Dear diary...A poem in memory of the trees

that once stood, before being

blown down on a night of gales.

 

Photo is my own.

 

 

 

 

 

Certificate U
Poem
Dear Diary
Biography
Nature
Love
Journal
Autobiography

Comments

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

What a lovely idea to write a poem about your blown over trees. Did you replant in the space where they fell?

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Many thanks for reading and I'm glad you liked my poem insert. The actual tree that fell down was the other side of the fence in our neighbours garden. They decided to replace with blossom trees which are a bit smaller. Because we live on a hill and the winds are very strong, our Christmas tree wasn't replaced and a couple of other trees that were damaged we had to take down too, because they were dangerous, we never did replace them sadly, but at least we don't have that worry anymore. We do have many trees around our back garden though, and watch the crows from the bedroom window, so all is not lost.

I used to love the fact that when it got really hot, the trees that blew down would overhang our garden and give wonderful shade to lie under, and you'de be able to hear the pigeons flapping around and other birds, it was so relaxing. Happy days.

Many thanks for the lovely cherries insert, they were most appreciated.

Jenny. smiley

 

 

Submitted by celticman on

we talk about rainforests, but Britain used to have forests too as did all nations. 

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Jack,

yes you're right. I think we still do have some wonderful forests, not quite rain forests though, but thankfully managed and protected by people that care about the enviroment.

It's such a shame about our garden being so high up, the weather can get so violent here, it's sometimes quite scary. We lost our green house and the roof of our shed and lean too had to be replaced because of the damage. 

We are lucky enough to have many great woodland walks around where we live, so that's a bonus.

Our neighbours agree with us that the weather is becoming far more violent than it used to be, so we have decided not to replace any trees that come down, but I do have some wonderful memories of when we first moved in.

Thanks for reading Jack, and leaving a comment, it's appreciated.

Jenny. smiley

 

Submitted by memphis on

I enjoyed the read!

William E Alexander

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi William,

I'm so glad you enjoyed and thank you for reading and letting me know.

Best wishes.

Jenny. smiley

 

Submitted by marandina on

"Arboreal creatures grasp secret

triggers to be unlocked.."

Different circumstances, I know, but your poem made me think of the missing Sycamore Gap tree at Hadrian's Wall. Trees make the world a better place so the thought of replacing lost ones is just fine and dandy with me :)

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Paul,

I can understand how this poem would remind you of the missing Sycamore at Hadrian's Wall. It's always sad when another tree disappears, and I agree with your thoughts that they should be replaced under the right circumstances. 

Many thanks for reading and your interesting comment.

Jenny. smiley

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

So sorry you cannot replace your trees! That's a real shame when you are one of those too rare people who truly appreciate them, which is why I love reading your tree poems. You seem to go deep into Nature, into a vein that is beyond science, that has a deeper truth. Really enjoyed your poem, specially

"with outstretched branches,

knowing duty to integrate all; from

youngest to oldest."

and wonderful images of

"where

pigeons balance within shadowed

foliage"

and

"glistening rays sparkling

between leaves"

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hello Di,

you know we are still lucky enough to have a Maple tree, Hazel Nut tree and a blossom tree, so all is not lost. We recently had to get the Hazel Nut tree and Blossom cut back, because they were getting too tall and overhanging the neighbours gardens. This was not a cheap job either and cost us an arm and a leg, but they're definitely looking in better condition and it's all a lot more tidy.

I'm so glad you liked those lines you pointed out. It's always a pleasure to get your input on what I've written, and also great hearing your appreciation of the natural world.

Thank you so much for reading and sharing your thoughts.

Jenny. smiley

 

Submitted by Turlough on

I love trees and I know the upset that losing one can bring. We have a couple of very very old walnut trees which I love but always wonder if they will survive the next storm. If they were human they'd be in a home for the elderly.

So I read deeply into your poem. Nice one Jenny!

 

Turlough

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Thank you for your understanding Turlough. It's so difficult to keep large trees when you're living in a neighbourhood, because the one thing I would hate is to fall out with any of them, I just enjoy the peaceful life.

I completely understand about your quandary with your old walnut tree. Wouldn't it be great if trees didn't die? I always admire the Oak tree, which can live for hundreds of years if allowed. The trees we lost in our garden, we didn't grow, they were already there when we moved in, I felt they were far too close to the neighbours fence and had a feeling they were causing problems.

I planted our Hazel tree and the squirrels love the nuts, and also our Maple tree which overhangs our den and is glorious to sit under in summer.

Always great to hear from you Turlough and thanks for reading.

Jenny. smiley

 

Submitted by Turlough on

The most uplifting bit of human optimism I have ever witnessed was when I was in Madagascar and we visited a forest where baobab trees were growing. They had specimens that had been growing there for more than six hundred years. One tree, they claimed, was more than a thousand years old.

Sitting outside a hut by the road I saw a young boy planting baobab seeds in pots of soil. There's nothing like planning for the future! I think of him just about every time I go near a tree, especially an old one.

One way or another, trees can bring out the best in all of us and the wildlife that we live amongst.

Turlough

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Turlough,

I'm so sorry I have been late to your comment, had a busy couple of days.

Isn't it incredible how those trees survive, if just given a chance to grow. We can all live side by side with trees if we so wish, it's just a shame that some people want their gardens to be either concreted ove with no trees at all. Me personally, I like a wild garden, with areas to sit and enjoy the wildlife.

I remember some years back watching a programme about Bill Oddy, who used to be in the Goodies. His garden was really wild with many species of trees, it was almost like a jungle, with birds and squirrels and this was a town house and garden, so no countryside around.

It was so interesting hearing about the baobab trees and their life span. I also agree with you about trees bringing out the best in all of us and the wildlife we live amongst.

Many thanks for sharing.

Jenny. smiley

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

I enjoyed the way you describe the branches as outstretched and welcoming of all. A tree holds no prejudice and they're such generous spirits but beautiful too, what more could you ask? We are planning to have a lovely mature cedar removed because it's causing problems for both us and our neighbour. I feel guilty every time I walk under it and need to somehow make peace with it before the chop.

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Jane,

like you say all trees hold no prejudice and are accepting of all...that's such a great way of describing trees. 

I can really feel for you having to remove your lovely mature cedar tree. Again garden trees are a problem when living with neighbours...but what else can you do but remove it if it's causing problems. 

If I were you I'd take a photo of it before you chop it down and write a little tribute to the tree in a poem or just a few words. 

Hope you manage to make your peace Jane.

Thank you for sharing your story and reading mine.

Jenny. smiley