The Histories of Ornamental Trees
The Histories of Ornamental Trees
1.) From Seed
Individual
each seed its own shape and size
blown in a light breeze.
Hoarded by squirrel
nibbled by quiet Deer
a chance for a life.
A root as anchor
when youth begins to find sprout
small yet flexible.
The soil holds you close
to its breast as you suckle
nutrients needed.
The sun a blanket
to wrap around fragile leaf
allowing deep breath.
Seedling to infant
very thin and small yet tall
and with care grows strong.
Cellular lessons
taught through these generations
through their long lifelines.
2.) The Midlife of Trees
These travels from seed
to barren branches to snag
blossoming middle.
After a transplant
the trees leaves have grown broader
and a darker green.
A network of roots
communication between
families broad leaves.
Mid life the trees stretch
beyond their limited reach
to find more sunlight.
A trunk now stable
to lose its lean and stand up
against gravity.
In adolescence
slender branches pointed tops
established themselves.
Soon comes middle age
grows thicker and heavier
will retain good health.
The trees prime of life
full round top corners with branch
take care of themselves.
This tree who listens
to the drama of our home
absorbing trauma.
3.) Trees Twilight
During this still life
a witness to birth and death
with a calm silence.
Trees become seniors
their canopy flattens out
dying branches thin.
Many years to live
nears the end stage of life
accepts humble plot.
Then comes the Twilight
fifty years of grey Twilight
a year for a branch.
One day death will come
this bark will become the soil
a new beginning.
Do trees feel pain?
Do they reach in agony
or hurt quietly?
When their branches break
their canopy opens wide
and green turns to brown.
- Dream of Basho’s Garden - May 30, 2023
- Wendell Berry Haiku - May 15, 2023
- Bird Path of Swann Lake - May 1, 2023
Jamie, I love this story of the birth, life, and death of trees, then the new beginning. Wonderful work on these Haiku telling the histories. Great job. Take care.
Wonderful tribute to trees. I just love all kinds but my favorites stayed behind in Latvia. I am a sensitive person and for some reason trees seemed to reach out to me and they were all oaks. The tree in my garden was a tall oak named Henry, the first oak at the end of our block was Bernhardt, just before the store we went were Alfonss and Peter and the final oak stood right in front of the store and was Friedrich. And you know what? It was reasonable that I found contact with them and names because some of the names are German and at one time Germans occupied Latvia and probably planted some of these trees. Therefore thank you for these wonderful haikus to trees.
Thank you Phyllis. Rasma your story is wonderful. I wished I could back and name all the tees that touched my life. Jamie