In American Literature of Nature and Place, one of the classes I am taking this quarter, we were given an assignment during class to go outside to the arboretum for an hour and write a page long essay about a douglas fir. It isn't the fanciest piece of writing (I did write it in less than an hour) but perhaps you'll find it interesting.
Here you sit atop a bluff, king of your little hill. From here the movement of those below look small, the time they are with you fleetin. Do you hear their conversation, do you know our words? What of the gossip of jays and chickadees, and the chatter of squirrels, do you hear them? I assume you do, with over 100 years to learn to decipher the clicks, caws, and whistles. What secrets do you keep great tree, locked beneath your thick bark? Have others before me asked you these questions?
I know you can't answer me but I imagine a sigh as you ponder all the lives you have witnessed and the many more that are sure to pass around you. I imagine your voice as that of an old man brimming with stories; but you are still young yet. Perhaps I judge you wrongly and for all your stateliness you still brim with the energy of youth full of equally pondering questions for me as I sit at your feet deaf to your inquiries.
Though I may not understand you what of your neighbors maple, alder, and cedar? Do you philosophize about the stars and discuss life as we do? In the winter when the life of alder and maple and alder is hidden from me do they still speak with you?
I find the need to apologize for my incessant queries and beg your forgiveness if I have offended. I mean to leave you alone now to sit and think on these questions myself but once I sit back, more questions come to mind.
Do trees have a religion? I feel the answer is no though there is still a deep spirituality in you. Your life is directly tied to the sun so do you worship it? My life as well is tied to the sun though sometimes I forget. Perhaps that is how we can communicate, through our mutual need of the sun. As I turn to face it I feel a kinship with you my tree friend and a not of pleasure as I came to the realization on my own. though we speak differently the light of our lives is unbreakingly entwined.
Here you sit atop a bluff, king of your little hill. From here the movement of those below look small, the time they are with you fleetin. Do you hear their conversation, do you know our words? What of the gossip of jays and chickadees, and the chatter of squirrels, do you hear them? I assume you do, with over 100 years to learn to decipher the clicks, caws, and whistles. What secrets do you keep great tree, locked beneath your thick bark? Have others before me asked you these questions?
I know you can't answer me but I imagine a sigh as you ponder all the lives you have witnessed and the many more that are sure to pass around you. I imagine your voice as that of an old man brimming with stories; but you are still young yet. Perhaps I judge you wrongly and for all your stateliness you still brim with the energy of youth full of equally pondering questions for me as I sit at your feet deaf to your inquiries.
Though I may not understand you what of your neighbors maple, alder, and cedar? Do you philosophize about the stars and discuss life as we do? In the winter when the life of alder and maple and alder is hidden from me do they still speak with you?
I find the need to apologize for my incessant queries and beg your forgiveness if I have offended. I mean to leave you alone now to sit and think on these questions myself but once I sit back, more questions come to mind.
Do trees have a religion? I feel the answer is no though there is still a deep spirituality in you. Your life is directly tied to the sun so do you worship it? My life as well is tied to the sun though sometimes I forget. Perhaps that is how we can communicate, through our mutual need of the sun. As I turn to face it I feel a kinship with you my tree friend and a not of pleasure as I came to the realization on my own. though we speak differently the light of our lives is unbreakingly entwined.
