Forest Tree

A poem

Photo by Author, Adelia Ritchie

My family studies
records of our ancestors’
births, deaths, offspring
branches reaching
deep into the past
into Scotland
England
France —
our family tree.

I practice art,
paintings in pastels,
acrylics, watercolors,
multimedia sometimes.
Flowers and landscapes
sun and rain
summer and fall
gnarly trunks and bent branches —
my artist tree.

I ponder the dance
of atoms, molecules,
electrons, in their mystery
within the old oak
that leans protectively
over my studio
making energy inside
its leaves. The sun warms
and catalyzes, brings life
to my chemist tree.

This ancient tree
shelters songbirds,
tree frogs, ants and weevils,
webbed in fungal communication
with the forest, the grass,
and with me.
Its sweet oxygen breath
intoxicates, calms, inspires —
my poet tree.