Wednesday, January 26, 2011

the black cherry in winter

three years ago this tree was dying
i didn't know why but he was clearly sad
i asked him what was wrong and he told me

so i took the dead branches off him
spent more time watering him
and gave him my love


the next year he blossomed -
a cloud of blossoms
each as soft as a kiss

have you held a blossom on your lips?

i was deeply thrilled
to touch the pink blossoms
each carefully painted
with thin deep red threads

but to feel my friend's rough body
to know that he had found his life again


well that was pure joy
and that joy
was driven even deeper
by the appearance of fruit

the birds ate it all in three days
but to know that the black cherry
had returned and made its place again
was the purest magic


he's sleeping right now
but i drop in on him
to let him know
i'm still around
waiting
and hoping
that he will be too

18 comments:

Linda Sue said...

He's pleased.

The Weaver of Grass said...

I am glad that someone else talks to the trees Steven - makes all the difference.

Elisabeth said...

What's the chance of a real revival here. Perhaps not much but these little bits of life, these epicormic shoots give us hope.

Lorenzo — Alchemist's Pillow said...

Beautiful. One of those monumental 'minor' accomplishments of a rich life. We have probably all read and been moved by The Giving Tree; this could be The Golden Fish and the Receiving Tree.

steven said...

linda sue - yep he surely is and i am very pleased for him. steven

steven said...

weaver - i talk to lots of stuff. plants, trees, crows. i don't know why. i like it! steven

steven said...

elisabeth - are you thinking locally, or globally?! steven

steven said...

lorenzo - ha! this could become an epic tale! i'll keep it as simple as it really is. steven

aguja said...

Aren't trees amazing?

Lovely to have a real 'blossom' day ... and your tree hibernating beneath the snow ... waiting.

Such soft, beautiful words.

Lisa Ursu said...

your connection made me cry, but in such a happy way. that connection,
it's love! and it is all around us, always, just waiting to be discovered. your words above too steven, "i'll keep it as simple as it really is."
Yeah!!!!!!
thank you for sharing this.

Reya Mellicker said...

OK Steven, make me cry! In a good way, though. That tree is so lucky.

I always put the ornamental cherry blossoms to my lips - in fact I eat them! Don't tell anyone; I don't think I'm supposed to.

The new banner? WOW!!

steven said...

aguja - trees are truly amazing. they have stories and then also they hold so much knowledge of vyvles and then the many goodnesses they provide. list them all to yourself and prepare to be astonished - not only at the trees but also at what you know. steven

Jo said...

Oh, Steven...your description of the "pink blossoms
each carefully painted
with thin deep red threads" is exquisite.

I'm personally connected to trees, too. I talk with them, we reach out to each other. I vow to protect them, and my granddaughter shares the same sensitivity. It fills me with hope.

Thank you for the lovely words and lovely images with them.

Dulçe ♥ said...

I look forward to that blossom... meanwhile I enjoy your loud silence-
Dulce

Titus said...

Hooray! I love cross-kingdom contact!

steven said...

titus - it's the bee's knees! steven

steven said...

jo i'm always heartened to read of people like yourself reaching across the barriers of perception into worlds that reach into ours without condition! steven

steven said...

dulce - i'm looking forward to the blossoms and everything that goes with it - the birds and the bees. a loud silence. hmmmm gotta think about that! steven