Sycamore

 

the brown tall

statuesque

the one that seems to

grow everywhere

and everyplace

your land is beautiful

and great

your empire stretches

from Pennsylvania in

the east to Georgia 

in the south stretching

forth its hand

to kiss the great

Mississippi River

the boundary in the

west your power

giving way

to the arms of the

great plains

its fields of wheat

and corn

 

O brown champion

of love and life

you stand before

us all

O Sycamore

where are you

your bark felt

so good between

my small fingers

every eight year

old has felt its

tantalizing brittleness

your brown bark

your luscious greenish

brown skin

with bits of yellow

exposed to the sun

the tall branches

whose flesh is so

desired

can tell so many

tales

of

redcoat victory

at the battle of

Germantown

of blue and white

coats victories

at Yorktown

perhaps General Rochambeau

rested his back upon

you

surely General Washington

measured you

certainly, Solomon Northup

used his arms

in labor

upon you

 

O Sycamore

the true westerner

Platanus Occidentalis

you reside among

us

you are our true

backbone

without you

we cannot stand

 

O Sycamore

wide enough to

live in the hallow

large enough

to walk around

to take some

time in measuring

3ft for some

5ft for others

10, 20 or more

in diameter.

wood for the plenty

furniture

chopping blocks

for meat and poultry

the things we live upon

the things we need.

 

reforesting

replanting

the need for both humanity and plant

and the oxygen

we breathe

you fill the blue

sky with the substance

of life and love

you fill the blue

sky with hope

and desire

 

                               5/21/2021