speech

 

they say that trees speak

to one another, sharing food

 

and energy, life,

a manner of teaching;

 

that there are mother trees

who pass the last

of their richness to their children

as they die.

 

this

is deep speech,

 

unfathomable speech,

the speech of darkness

 

of water, wood

and of stone.

 

stand at the foot

of a thousand year pine

 

and listen to the wind

as it sings this tree.

 

then close your eyes

and open your mouth-

 

ask of the wind

to sing into you.

 

enter the grove at morning

before the heat of the sun

 

mutes the day — the ancient ones

still speak, still sing

 

in birds and wind,

in shadows, leaves

 

and rain. this was once

your speech,

 

is still

your speech.

 

enter the grove at morning,

before the heat of the sun

 

mutes the day — feel

the deep green speech

 

of this world — pray

once again to be worthy

 

of trees.

 

 

© oldbonesnewsnow.com/J.A. Fink