ECOWATCH: Valentine love tributes to a tree
Nestled under a mighty bow seeking shade on a sun drenched day Stealing a kiss for the here and now trying to find immortal things to say. Entranced with love and dappled green, Tied to the earth with water and light. A place in time made so serene, A gift of rest by misted moonlight. Oh love tree grows not just for me But for all to embrace eternity. – Gardin
Almost every year Ecowatch has written love quotes from poets who have exclaimed the power and joy of love between man and women, animals sharing love and other venues of love. However, there is another pathway to love that is too often overlooked and that is the love of trees and what they wish to share with all of us.
Now, too many will scoff at this idea, and think how can one love a tree and feel its response?
First, a quick tale of a whispering pine that graced my property when I lived on the outskirts of town. It was a stately guy; its branches reached for the sky and my, it could whistle softly when the wind traveled through its branches. Many a windy day I sat by its shadow, read a book and listen to its song.
Many told me I should chop it down because if a hurricane came it would fall directly on my house. I told them it would not. Sure enough, Hurricane Charlie came through with a vengeance on August 13, 2004, roaring in with the sounds of a locomotive, taking everything with it … including my majestic pine.
However, my whistling pine did not fall on my house, but right next to it. A love story, yes.
The insurance man said the tree saved my house. I missed its stately presence for a long time to come.
Since then, studies have shown that trees do communicate with one another, protect and nurture each other and, in my search for love stories with trees, I found quotes from poets and also from acquaintances who were more than willing to share their love for tree.
“The Love of a Tree”
-penned by Diane Piette
Is to be truly known
By another
Walking by
Held in an invisible embrace
Encircled by its magic.
It watches you with longing
Yearns for you to see it too.
But knows you might not believe that real love is the one where you accept.
That is not familiar, that which cannot be seen. Yet still,
Will find you.
And always be there
If only you will stop
And let it know you.”
The Gift of a Tree
Marilyn Weaver sent in the following written by Poet Lenore Hetrick
“Trees offer to those who love them
A message of peace and rest,
They bring the glow of a setting sun
As it vanishes in the west.
They tell you of years that swiftly pass,
With little mark nor scar.
They tell of evenings that know naught
But calm of evening star
Trees offer to those who love them
Infinite wisdom and grace
Underneath their bough’s tree lovers
See eternity’s face.”
The following was submitted by Jiminy Cricket, a regular contributor to Eco Watch and a lover of John Muir. Jiminy offered these little jewels.
“And into the forest I go to lose my mind and find my soul.
The clearest way into the universe is through a forest wilderness.” – John Muir
Poet Herman Hesse poet wrote:
“Trees are sanctuaries.
Whoever knows how to speak to them can learn the truth.”
Jane Goodall wrote:
“Trees are living beings. And they have their own personalities. There are the young eager saplings all striving with each other. If you put your cheek against one of these, you almost sense the sap rising and its energy.”
Poet Cristen Rodgers wrote:
“Listen closely –
Even the trees exhale
Their own sweet love songs
That roll off out to all of creation.
Love is always in the air.”
Poet Angie Weiland Crosby wrote:
“Along this earthen wonderland
My heart falls in green love;
As I gaze awestruck to the trees
Sharing grace from above.”
Lastly, no love story of trees could ever be finished without adding this immortal poem by Joyce Kilmer:
“I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely like a tree
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth, sweet flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me
But, only God can make a tree.“
Wishing all a Happy Valentine’s Day. Please do go out and hug a tree and promise to protect all from harm … especially all the mighty oaks.
For more information on the magical lives of trees read The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben
