Protect the Great Giants

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “tree.” Use the word “tree” or write about a tree. Any kind of tree. Enjoy!

Oh glorious, majestic anchor of boughs
As child I’d climb you to see far and wide
As youth I’d sit against your trunk
And imagine where my life was headed to
And now as adult I hug your grown middle
Knowing the healing of your constant
From oxygen, to bird’s home, to food
Squirrels and bushbabies, monkeys and sloths
All call you their playground or home
Cedar, oak, great baobab, weeping willow
Birch, larch, pine, fir, ash, camphor and more
The sign of Christmas in the window
All decked out and glowing colourful and bright
A giver of lessons in the tenacity of your roots
The grounding and purchase over rock and in soil
Giver of shade from the hot scorching sun
A hiding place in the games that we play
Perfect spot for a childhood house
And though your bark may bare the signs of scratching
You still reach for the sky in splendour
Though many a man remove you for his home to replace
I wish them to redesign their mansion
Around the majesty of ancient branches
And the leaves of phenomenal trees

Debbie Gravett © 2021.12.11