Tree Speaking - Wendy Young — Urban Tree Festival

One of the Top 24 submissions in our 2022 Urban Tree Festival writing competition.

Tree Speaking

After Poetry for Grenfell workshop (Kamitan Arts)

To this woman here

Trying to capture MY beauty on her mobile

Up here I am full arboreal glory

Rooted under your concrete world

Incessant branches in all directions

Scattering the leaves I have done with

I’ll make love with the earth and grow more and more

-but let this lost lady kick them and be childish

if it gives her pleasure to spread my seed

I am always touched by the kindness of strangers!

Take my fallen branches

Burn in your fire

Dance in the flames of my ghosts

My family is trophy held blossom

Here’s my prize

Try taking from me!

Only I can keep them alive

The short time they bloom

Break them they die -

my white mistresses

Fail to make you happy

In a jar – they shrivel

Yet just stand under me

I can give you my full power

Just meditate – breathe

I am always here

Under my arms

Rest your head in my hollow

Macrocosm of the axilla of a bird’s wing

I shelter even a small things

... you can almost hear talk in waves ... wind is a reminder life will grow again ... praise the trees ... lungs of our City ... hug our pity

Tree Speaking - Wendy Young