See how the trees
Reach up and outward
As if their entire existence
Were an elegant gesture of prayer.
See how they welcome the breath of spirit,
In all its visible and invisible forms.
See how the roots reach downward and out,
Embracing the physical,
The body and bones
Of its soul of earth and stone,
Allowing half its life to be sheltered
in the most quiet and secret places.
Oh, if I could be more like a tree on this Sunday morning,
To feel the breath of invisible spirit
Touch me as tenderly as a kiss on the forehead.
If I could courageously and confidently
Dig down into the dark
Where the ground water runs deep,
Where shelter and sanctuary
Can be had and held.
Ah, to be like a tree
With all its bent and unbent places,
A whole and holy thing
From its topmost twigs
To the deepest taproot
To all the good and graceful
Spaces between.
~ Carrie Newcomer, “To Be Like A Tree” from The Beautiful Not Yet: Poems, Essays and Lyrics
Notes:
- Poem Source: To Have the Good and Grace of Trees by Parker J. Palmer (Onbeing, October 24, 2017)
- Photo: Autumn leaves reflect on the surface of Tsutanuma Pond in Towada, Aomori, Japan. The Asahi Shimbun From “Pictures of The Day” in The Telegraph, October 26, 2017 (via Your Eyes Blaze Out)
Open those arms, as branches, turn your face upwards…plant your feet in your home, and breathe. This poem lives.
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Yes. Words and construction so beautiful.
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This is so beautiful!
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It is! So agree.
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🙂
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Beautiful poem of a tree, David and such great words of truth in them if we could just be like them and embrace them
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So agree Kamal. Thank you.
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Welcome David
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I’m always learning from my tree friends.,beautiful words 🌿🍀🌿
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Beautiful words. That’s it Karen.
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yes, yes. trees are so full of beauty and life.
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They are Beth. They are.
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“…their entire existence an elegant gesture of prayer.” Exquisite, and so, so right,particularly at this time of year when they erupt in a symphony of color. Ahhh….
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Yes. Beautiful line. Ahhh is right.
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Love this! Thanks Dave 🌳
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It is great. Agree Val.
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Reblogged this on Bright, shiny objects! and commented:
Lovely images…
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Thank you Todd. I agree.
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What a lovely poem to awaken to this morning David! Thank you for posting it.
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Hi Louise. It is. Thank you. Happy Sunday to you.
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So lovely…
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I do love trees. They are at least one of the pinnacles of creation, Magnificent in appearance, practical in their giving, welcoming to both man and beast.” “I think that I shall never see, a poem as lovely as a tree….
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Well put Marie.
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Oh, if I could be a bird flying from one tree top to the other this time of the year.
Beautiful. ..
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Love that.
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What a beautiful and elegant poem, throughout.
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Loved it too.
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GORGEOUS David! The poem, the photo and the feeling that remains after reading your post.
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Smiling. Felt the same. Same.
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If one spends enough time with trees (and in them – I prune mine as well), one becomes more like them, I think 😉
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I think, you are right Bela.
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How did I miss this?! “…as if their entire existence
Were an elegant gesture of prayer.
See how they welcome the breath of spirit,
In all its visible and invisible forms.”
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Yes…she is something else…
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Reblogged this on Sherrie's Scriptorium and commented:
This is a beautiful post from one of my favorite blogs. Happy Sunday.
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