Do Trees Inspire You Too?
I hope they do...
A particular Cedar tree recently caught my eye during a visit to some friends’ beautiful home on Meyers Island, Ontario. It was surrounded by groves of Cedars and other beauties blushing red and yellow in the late fall.
The haunting nature of this particular Cedar began inspiring words in my mind as if speaking to some deep part of my soul. So it was no surprise when the first line of a poem started rolling around silently on my tongue, insisting to be written down.
I’m sure you agree, as I do, with Joyce Kilmer as she writes in her poem,
“I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.”
for…
“Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.”
Yet inspired, I started to write, pondering what could be behind these insistent musings. Over the course of a few weeks, this poem has taken shape, and I hope you will find this tree as inspiring as I did.
Cedar By The River
An island Cedar stood between the rivers
Wide arms outstretched
With a cutoff branch looking like Minerva’s
Nose.
Her wise words, silent,
Just watching the passing waters
Racing over stones —her arms were heavy, bent.
Her whispers, only the mind could hear.
Unmoved she stood
On her spot by the river
Flinching not, even if she could...
Perchance inwardly, she thought,
Of the sun's rising, shining, setting,
Of rain, snow —winds that blow;
Of creatures scampering.
Of time flowing ...yet standing still.
Was there a contemplative silence,
Or perhaps an inner song?
A knowing resilience
That stood, no matter what or how long.
Such a strange metaphor,
The strength of a Cedar, a gift of grace
To ponder and adore...
An ever conductress in her forest's repertoire.
Somehow, this sacred tree upstretched, yet gnarled,
Kept vigil, unperturbed
Amidst many midnight hours
While we dreamt of poetry and flowers.
Research Notes associated with the poem:
Minerva is renowned as the virgin goddess of music, poetry, medicine, commerce, weaving, and crafts. The "Owl of Minerva" could be why owls are referred to as being wise since Minerva was also the Roman goddess of wisdom, justice, law, and victory. She was known as a sponsor of arts, trade, and strategy and as one of the three Roman deities in the Capitoline Triad, along with Jupiter and Juno.
Cedars are used as the basis of several metaphors in the Bible. King Solomon chose the strong timbers of Cedar to build God's temple
(1st Kings 7:2-3)
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