Early morning
A woody wood pigeon
Heavy-weight dove,
With white outlined wings
And pristine necklace
Flies into the Scots pine
Seeking breakfast
Expectantly.
Ailerons yawing
Awkwardly lands
Cautiously advances
Staggering intoed
Along a slender branch
Which dips and sways
Flipping him downward
Unseemingly.
He briefly fumbles
Flutters
Rises efficiently
Soaring skyward
Returns moments later
Landing on a sturdier bough
To search for food
Determinedly.
One solitary sycamore leaf
By violent winds buffeted
Ripped from its branch
Separated from all its friends
Lies sadly in the road
Dying alone
Its summer green already changed
To the yellow of autumn.
A bright splash of gold
On black, wet tarmac
That on a dull, gloomy day
Lifts my spirit
Cheers me on my way.
Yesterday I hugged a tree
It made me feel so good
The feel of the rough bark
The ambrosial smell of wood.
I felt in touch with me
With my arms around that tree.
Feeling the calm descend
As I communed as with a friend
I had emotional release
Sensed a deep inner peace.
The tree I hugged? An oak
I’m so privileged that it spoke
To me.
Early morning sun gleaming through trees
Leaves gently rustling in the light autumn breeze
Conifers lightly swaying seeming to say
Come rejoice with us it’s such a beautiful day.
Small birds winging across the sugar beet
A buzzard stooping to find something to eat
Then lifting my eyes to the small clouds on high
I marvel at the endlessness of an East Anglian sky.
As time moves on and the sun rises higher
My heart is renewed and my burden feels lighter
And I once again give thanks for an eye that sees
Such beauty all around, but especially for trees.
I’d like to be
A bud
On a tree
In Spring
Drawing up sap
Full of potential
Awaiting the warmth
Of the sun
To unfurl
A life opening up
A beautiful leaf
To drink in the rain
No mark or stain
Shining
Bright
Bringing pleasure to all
Resting secure
One of many
Sharing the branch
At the start of the year
With my peers
United.
I feel like
An autumn leaf
Detached
Insecure
Helplessly tossing
Spinning
Twirling
Round and round
In the air
On the ground
At the whim
Of every wind
Blown hither
Thither
To and fro
Never sure
Of the way I might go
Unable to settle
Hesitation
Agitation
No rest.
If I take a tree
Chop off its roots
I no longer have a tree.
If I take from my friends
Give nothing back
I’ll no longer have any friends.
If I take a family
Deprive it of love
I no longer have a family.
If I take from God
Never give thanks
God will still be there for me.
It’s morning; the sun has broken through
The darkness of the night
And the trees that were dark and sombre
Are now sparkling with diamonds bright.
For during the night the rain fell
On the trees that were dusty and grey
And the leaves that were hanging limp and tired
Are now heralding the day.
So with me – when darkness surrounds me
And I’m feeling weary and sad
God sends his sweet and refreshing rain
To restore me and make me glad.
Job 5:9-11
A sprig broken off dies
However hard one tries
To keep it alive.
Attached it continues to flower
Bringing hope hour by hour
Great happiness to all.
I really would like to be
A sprig fixed firm to the tree
That brings great encouragement.
I want the life sap to flow
So that the love-joy will always show
In beautiful blossom and fruit.
Life is very like a tree
In winter it renews its strength
Silently preparing for fruitfulness
Seasons of rain as well as sun
Are needful to get the Lord’s work done
Troubles I have now will soon be past
To be replaced by joy that will always last.
So I’ll just hold steady and let God work
Instead of worrying and going berserk
And the circumstances I’m in today
God will work for my good in His own way.
Thank you Lord I have learned
Through this painful hour.
That true success comes only through your power
I surrender myself and all I do
May your strength through my weakness
Bring glory to you.
2 Corinthians 3:5 & 4:17
