The Gift of Trees

I admire trees
The manner in which they bend
As winds howl through
And what once seemed immobile
Sways like a dancer
Moving to and fro with grace
In choreographed precision
With the forest of partners 
In its company

I admire trees
The way they stand proudly
Naked, grey, their true winter selves
Reaching for the sky 
Ready to bend without notice
Housing insects and birds
Giving homes for free
Arms always reaching out
Open and inviting

I admire trees
Drinking deeply 
Through their anchored roots
Sending messages within the ground
They survive
Even thrive
And offer gifts
Their fruits nourishing the world
Their shade given in the summer’s heat
Their toes holding earth
Keeping erosion at bay
Their sap sweetening life

I admire trees
Evergreens, oaks, birch, maple, elm, and beech
The list goes on 
They live together
Harmoniously
Creating forest abode
For creatures of the land and sky
They drop their leaves at season’s end
Nurturing soil beneath
Without complaint 
They pass through the seasons
Death, Rebirth, Creative Life, Waning Days
The cycle repeats
As apparent death holds life within

I admire trees
They teach me to trust
There is more to life
Than my eyes behold.