I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is pressed
Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are written by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
~Joyce Kilmer, "Trees," 1914
Yes, it's Arbor Day! Do you know what your state tree is? If not go here to find out. Some fun things to do today:
~ Learn a tree poem, such as Kilmer's above.
~ Find a tree to adopt; it could be one in your yard, or one that grows nearby. Start a book about it - draw it through the seasons, observe its changes and its inhabitants.
~ Brainstorm all the good things that come from trees, from lumber to maple syrup to the air we breathe. Make a poster!
~ Read a great book about trees today, fiction or non-fiction. Your library is sure to have many ...
~ Do you have a good field guide for identifying trees? Take it with you next time you're out and about and see how many you can name. Keep a list at home and add to it all summer long.
And of course it's a great weekend to get the family out in the yard for a general clean-up. Do you have a copy of Mrs. Sharp's Traditions? Author Sarah Ban Breathnach has some wonderful ideas for celebrating this charming holiday.
Have a great weekend, everyone! Don't forget to stop by a wrung sponge for the whole Poetry Friday Round-Up!
"You will find something more in woods than in books. Trees and stones will teach you that which you can never learn from masters." ~ Saint Bernard
