Reprising Joyce Kilmer

                                             Medley

        A Homage to Trees in Poetry and Pictures

                            

                               by Cindy Pinkston

As I grew during childhood, many trees

living near my home were time-markers;

and now as an adult, they have not changed.

Trees are living calendars.

In winter many are bare, a medley of sticks.

Slowly, quietly, tiny buds blossom in spring.

Summer brings refreshing shade, varicolored

fruits and berries. In autumn, the trees are aflame.

I still remember crossing campus as the days

grew colder.  Carried along by a stronger breeze

the bronze, red, golden leaves of fall gave me

no small delight as we danced together.

All trees sing. Some audibly: pines that sigh,

the steady breath of the ancient redwoods.

Trees reach upwards : towards sun, sky,

the heavens. Trees worship.

P.S.: I would like to thank Cindy for contributing this piece on trees - both the poem and the photos.  In the SFO Bay Area, there is an organization called Canopy which promotes the planting of trees.  If you would like to know about what they are doing and what resources they offer for those who want to improve their neighborhoods, here's the link.   

P.S.2: Note: Yesterday, May 7, Microsoft, National Semiconductor, NVIDIA, REI, RHI, SanDisk and Yahoo joined forces with Canopy to plant more than 400 trees in a single day at Green Oaks and Cesar Chavez Academies on Ralmar Street in East Palo Alto – part of an initiative to plant more than 1,000 trees in the coming months. You can read more about it here.

A Post On Trees?

What's the common thread between Newton, the Buddha and Gilroy Gardens.
I discovered this when I asked myself the question of whether I should do a dedicated post on trees.

I knew non-tree lovers, if asked - either in dread of botanical boredom, or in fear of being subjected to environmental nutjobbism... would say an emphatic "No!".

But what if Isaac Newton were living?  Might he have responded:

 “You must, Minoo.

After all, were it not for me watching an apple fall from a tree and wondering why it didn’t go upwards or sideways... I might never have formulated the theory of gravity.

By all means, do a post on trees.”

And what if I asked the question of the Buddha?

Might he have found some divine means of revelation to convey these thoughts to me:

“Remember it was under a peepal* tree, Minoo, that I attained “bodhi” or enlightenment.

It was how that humble peepal tree in Bodh Gaya became the famed Bodhi Tree.

You will find it written in the sacred texts that I gazed at this Bodhi Tree for a whole week with utmost gratitude after I attained enlightenment.

So by all means, go ahead and pay homage to trees, ignoring the naysayers.

And on no account should you be like King Ashoka’s wife, who jealous of her husband’s homage to the Bodhi Tree, attempted to destroy it with mandu thorns.”

And if I asked C.S. Lewis (assuming I found a way to commune with him)?

Might he discourse with me on the Book of Genesis.

And the central place of the tree with the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden.

And might he also bring up the subject of Christmas trees with me.

After all, who can imagine Christmas without Christmas Trees?

And finally, what if I asked Axel Erlandson...?

...the 1940's tree genius whose "Circus Trees" were featured in Ripleys Believe It Or Not and Life Magazine back in the day.
Me thinks Erlandson would be thrilled to see a post on trees.

Meanwhile, file this information away about Erlandson's Circus Trees in your "100 Things To See Before I Die" folder...
They are on permanent display at Gilroy Gardens, which also happens to be one of the best SFO Bay Area Theme and Amusement Parks for kids 3-10 (as well as kids 50 plus).

You can learn more about Gilroy Gardens and Axel Erlandson’s Circus Trees here.

In Conclusion, Yes We Should and Will Have A Post On Trees

A post in poetry and pictures.

Put together by my neighbor Cindy.

Who it turns out, is just as handy with a camera as she is with a pen.

Look for it on Sunday.

*Peepal is Hindi for Fig

P.S. If you want to plan a visit to Bodh Gaya, India, where you can visit the Mahabodhi Temple and see the Bodhi Tree, here’s a link to information on TripAdvisor.

Also, if your trip to India includes Bangalore, and you need an “unhotel’ to stay in, you should check out Sundance Serviced Apartments which is run by my sister Chris and her hubby. Here’s a link to information about Sundance on TripAdvisor.

P.S. 2:  Do you have a hardwood tree in your backyard?  Want to make a terrific tire swing for your kids. Here's a link on how to create one (from Disney – who else). Tire swings are a common sight in India, especially in rural areas.