She was a grand old pine
She, I always thought of her as She,
would whisper and sing
songs of water,
earth,
sun,
wind,
and welcome
how I loved her voice
She was our playmate as
we sat under the canopy,
lazing on hot summer days
swinging on the old board swing
twisting, then releasing
gazing up into the branches
dizzy, whorls of green light
It was game, who would get sick first.
Games were played beneath her branches
houses made of her sticks and needles
She was always home base
Nighttime she rapped on my window
rain sang through her arms of green and brown
snow held her branches down
creating a cave beneath to shelter in
Pine tree-friend
you sang me to sleep
danced with me in the wind
shielded me from hot summer sun
protected me from rain and snow
Oh, how I miss you my friend
Ruth Jewell, ©July 15, 2020
Image: Yosemite National Park, October 2017, Photo Ruth Jewell
A Quiet Walk 