12. Open Topic

[gunwithoutmusic]

"Reach"
119 words. Approximate reading time: 35 seconds. Audio version here.

The tree branches—
Like tendrils—
Dig through the air,
Searching for resistance
And finding none,

While their leaves—
Blessed by wind—
Tear off and fly away.

They form a tunnel,
Closing us off from
The rest of the world
And bathing us
In refracted green light.

I can’t help but notice
How perfectly it’s formed,
This tunnel of trees
Over a path worn by
Years of human feet,
Years of horse hooves,
Years of bicycle tires.

The trees are reaching—
Almost as if straining—
Out to each other
Across the path.

Rooted to the earth,
They cry out for each other,
Letting their branches
Intertwine like the fingers
Of clasped hands.

I stand in awe
Of this feeling,
The heavy sense of
Nature coming together,
Not so different
From me—
We are all connected.

I feel my fingers
Dig through the air,
Searching for resistance
And finding it,
As mine and yours
Reach over the path,
Worn by years of life.

Comments

[bleodswean]

I love how you take this out of nature and into human nature!

[gunwithoutmusic]

Thank you! :)

[adoptedwriter]

This is so descriptive and beautiful.

[gunwithoutmusic]

Thank you! :)

[alycewilson]

Such lovely imagery!

[gunwithoutmusic]

Thanks so much :D

[swirlsofpurple]

I adore the vivid aliveness with which you describe the trees, and the ending comparison was beautifully done.

[gunwithoutmusic]

Thank you so much :)

[halfshellvenus]

What an unexpected and lovely poem!

I especially like the parallels of the time-worn path between the trees and all of the years together between the two people here. Those years together can bind people together more strongly or cause them to grow apart...or both, at times, with some distances of unknowing (and unresolved questions) between them while the roots still interconnect and the hands (like our hears) still reach for that sense of completion.

[gunwithoutmusic]

Thank you! This is one of those where I was just walking along and it kind of came to mind - it's been a few weeks since I've been out on a hike and I really find myself missing that feeling of being connected to everything in such a profound way, and writing this made me want to get back out there more!

[murielle]

Beautiful! Absolutely beautiful!

I love trees and learning about them, and how they build community and help and nurture each other through their root systems. Wonderful!

This is just such a wonderful poem. Beautifully written, beautifully spoken, because poetry is meant to be heard! <3

[gunwithoutmusic]

It was really cool, noticing how even though a wide path had been cut through the trees, they all seemed to just grow closer together up at the top and make a perfect tunnel. I just kind of thought about it like, "Hey, even the trees have their little friends and communities and stuff." It's a neat feeling. :D

[murielle]

I've always wanted to live on a street where the trees arch over it and shelter it like that. Haven't yet, maybe someday. :-)

They really are the most beautiful...beings.

[flipflop_diva]

I love this! The imagery is so beautiful and sweet, and I love the idea of the trees reaching out for each other over the years. But even more, I love how the end ties back to human nature and reaching out for someone else who you've also been walking a path with through the years.

[gunwithoutmusic]

Thank you! It's sometimes hard to put into words that feeling of connection that I get and I wanted this to be about people, not about trees, so I was pretty happy about getting to that ending :)