The Family Tree(s)
There is the Grand Fir, perching on the edge of the horse paddock. The one Jani always fled to.
“I’m running away!”
Why did mom always let her go?
Bags packed, she’d stomp out of the house, down the concrete sidewalk, dividing the front lawn from the garden, past the light post, across the driveway, up the hill.
To claim her spot under the tree.
There she’d sit just out of reach. But not out of sight.
There is the Japanese Crab Apple, blooming in the front yard. Claiming centre stage. The one Sugar (or was it Beauty) always headed straight for.
“Oomph! I’m ok!”
The wind, knocked out of me –again.
Landing on my back, I’d roll over onto my knees, to breathe deeply. The pony would wait. For her chance, to do it again.
There is the Evergreen Saplings, littering the old road to the barn. The one Debi pulled out from the roots.
“Tory, Tory, Tory!”
Chanting the name ten times, as a curse. She’d wacked the wee tree on the ground. Repeatedly. My little sister’s desperate defence against her antagonist’s taunts.
There is the Transparent Apple Tree, lingering in the old apple orchard. The one we rode our ponies under on one particular summer’s day.
“Look at the cubs!”
We watched atop our ponies, languishing in a false sense of security. In awe of the display. High above our heads.
__________________________
And then there is the Larch Tree, standing alone in the field. The one my children claimed as their place of solace. Named, the Grandfather Tree.
“The rule breaker!”.
Protecting and keeping their secrets. Childhood artifacts buried in a time capsule at his roots.
I thank thee.
I
thank
thee.
There is the Lambert Cherry Tree, overtaking the back yard. The one I hired an arborist to cut down.
“It blocks out all the sun!”
A partial skeleton remains of the giant it once was. Life murmuring within, healing from the trauma of the chainsaws. Waiting, persisting, enduring abiding.
I am humbled by thee.
And there is the Hawthorne Tree growing in the front yard. The one I planted for absolution.
“It will offer shade!”
I
await
thee