Gingko Tree

 

1

 

i took a leaf

from a tree

plucked it carefully

in Rittenhouse Square before

a protest march

before eyes, slightly accusing eyes

of two Palestinian Muslims

i must remember people are sensitive

about preserving flora life

it was a leaf from the gingko

tree

each leaf resembles a green fan

i stuffed it in my pocket

like a thief

not to be noticed

not that pruning is a

crime

but with over 6 billion pairs

of hands pruning must be done

with care

i examined the little ridges in

the leaves

the small pipe like veins that

push nutrients and water

through it

primitive photosynthesis

 

Chinese tree it should be

called because of its origin

not that any tree can

be given a nationality

or human designation

 

aerial roots and bug resistant wood

branches that are thick and strong and

grow almost everywhere

eradicate nature can

be aesthetic

 

 

 

You live long they say

some have been around for

2500 years or more

 

 

2

 

ashen grey

with fan leaves

so delicately

woven made to

remind one of

the need for air

a quiet rest

in the shade

of a hot summer

green leaf

for beauty

and warmth

yellow leaf

         to remind me

 

green leaf

          to sincerely

          attract me

 

 

yellow leaf

          for the

          autumn

 

green leaf

          for the

          spring

 

the dancing

      fan to

      cool

       the

        anger

           within

                                                           5/27/2021