I lost two trees last summer
\nin a wind hurricane
\nthat came without rain.
\nWithout lightning.
\nJust wind scouring the
\nbranches and leaves of everything.
\nA hot wind that burned like salt.
\nLike an ancient seabed rolled up.
\nA mummy taken from its death bed.
\nIt was a storm unlike any other.
\nMaking us sit in corners
\nconfused and afraid.
\nDrinking wine and beer,
\nand silently cursing the devil,
\nrattling our windows,
\nshrieking in derision at our
\ntender skins, our fragile constitutions.
\nThe bellicosity of our weakness.<\/p>\n
We were being had.
\nCollars being fitted around our necks,
\nas we watched branches
\nshorn of leaves,
\nfoliage taking flight.
\nThen I heard the spine
\nof a young tree break.
\nA handsome pinnacle
\nof perfect posture,
\nsplintered like a bow.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s how it was.
\nSurreal light full of dust.
\nShade that sheltered us
\nblown away.
\nA sanctuary where children played.
\nWe are now replacing our losses
\nwith three trees.
\nTwo maples for ashes,
\nand an oak for good measure.
\nOur answer to fatalism.
\nAgainst turning our back on destruction.
\nAgainst world weariness
\nand cynicism.<\/p>\n
Nothing is over
\nthat we refuse to accept.
\nI am not forgetting
\nthe beauty of my trees.
\nI remember the hurricane
\nas something dying.
\nFor all its power,
\nits uselessness.
\nThe crash of an explosion gone.
\nA bat returning
\nto the darkness of its cave.
\nThe remains,
\nthree trees,
\ngreen as jade,
\nthe beautiful
\ncoming back to life,
\nsweet dreams.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I lost two trees last summer in a wind hurricane that came without rain. Without lightning. Just wind scouring the branches and leaves of everything.…<\/p>\n