Knowing trees, I understand the meaning of patience. Knowing grass, I appreciate patience.
A frontier is never a place; it is a time and a way of life.
Hal Borland (1900-1978) was an American writer, journalist, and naturalist.
Deserted, severed tree trunk
Shattered by storms long ago
Splitting this giant in two
Forsaken now in its woes
Nature’s hand calling the shots
Drawing dark cards from the deck
Standing alone, slowest death
Trying to salvage this wreck
Deformed snag appears lifeless
Yet, God calls this wildlife tree
Standing proudly, still on watch
Nature’s snack bar waits for free
Living nearby, log still lives
Covered with lichens and moss
Home for God’s smallest creatures
Termites, beetles . . . march across
Jagged stump remains on guard
Below the ground, roots still thrive
Life holds on, another year
Perseverance to survive
Around the dark, scuttled tree
Racing to reach sunlight first
Young saplings growing skyward
Cycle of life, marked to burst
All of the photographs were taken at Chestnut Ridge Metro Park, which is located just outside of Canal Winchester, Ohio. I frequently walk this park during the fall, spring, and summer months with an occasional hike in the wintertime.
Originally published September, 2020.
This poem features photos taken of a majestic American sycamore tree, which is found at Walnut Woods Metro Park. The tree is likely over a hundred years old. The location is part of an extensive network of nature parks in the central Ohio area around Columbus and Franklin County. These photos were taken during a series of walks that I’ve made over the past few years.
Far older than every one of the neighboring trees
Standing taller than many, all take notice and see
The prized King of Walnut Woods reigns today
Calling him Mister Sycamore, his subjects say
With branches elevating up towards the sky
Measuring his girth, takes many hands to try
Visitors pause to salute nature’s monarch
Standing in reverence as park’s landmark
The Woods change from season to season
Watching over all, is the King’s main reason
He holds on to his leaves longer in fall
Guarding the land in winter, always tall
His leaves take some time to fill out in spring
Providing ample shade in summer is his thing
His expansive canopy of branches spreads wide
Peeling off sections of bark, creates whitish sides
His heir, the Prince, waiting in the wings
Rising lean and tall by a creek, he sings
Farther away, a thick grove of younger ones wait
Dreaming who will grow to be the tallest, so great
Mister Sycamore loves many Bible stories
Lifting Jesus up in total and brilliant glory
The story of Zacchaeus climbing a Sycamore tree
Being much too short for Jesus to find, there he be
Ohio’s biggest recorded tree is an American sycamore found in Ashland County near Jeromesville. The tree is at least 200 years old, stands 88 feet tall, and measures 326 inches around its circumference.
Originally published September, 2019.
Final breath of summer
Extinguished by autumn’s tune—
Leaves’ colorful sketch
Autumn brings changes
Nature’s preparation time—
Every fallen leaf
Trees’ full canopies
Annual autumn harvest
Left bare once again
Darkness filled with silence
Night’s steady, hidden pulse
Forest waits with intrigue
Aching to act on impulse
Clouds mask glimpse of moonlight
Night’s mystery lurking
Trees holding back each breath
Listening, nature’s working
Twilight deepens with sleep
Night’s time for quiet rest
Something moves in secret
Finding ground, its final quest
Morning’s sunrise reveals
Night’s savored, precious prize
Tiny acorn ready now
Transforming, oak shall arise
Allergy time peaks
Summer moves into autumn—
Ragweed in full bloom
Summertime fading
Crisp, cool mornings signal change—
Autumn’s billboard colors
Autumn comes knocking
Where have all the song birds gone?
Morning’s quiet peace
Morning awakens
Cloudless, sunny, biggest sky—
Spring brings refreshment
Calming, windless day
Journey skyward toward heavens—
Giant trees stand silent
Bubbling whitewater
Creeks and rivers, energized—
Mountain snow melt flows
Deserted, severed tree trunk
Shattered by storms long ago
Splitting this giant in two
Forsaken now in its woes
Nature’s hand calling the shots
Drawing dark cards from the deck
Standing alone, slowest death
Trying to salvage this wreck
Deformed snag appears lifeless
Yet, God calls this wildlife tree
Standing proudly, still on watch
Nature’s snack bar waits for free
Living nearby, log still lives
Covered with lichens and moss
Home for God’s smallest creatures
Termites, beetles . . . march across
Jagged stump remains on guard
Below the ground, roots still thrive
Life holds on, another year
Perseverance to survive
Around the dark, scuttled tree
Racing to reach sunlight first
Young saplings growing skyward
Cycle of life, marked to burst
All of the photographs were taken at Chestnut Ridge Metro Park, which is located just outside of Canal Winchester, Ohio. I frequently walk this park during the fall, spring, and summer months with an occasional hike in the wintertime.
Far older than every one of the neighboring trees
Standing taller than many, all take notice and see
The prized King of Walnut Woods reigns today
Calling him Mister Sycamore, his subjects say
With branches elevating up towards the sky
Measuring his girth, takes many hands to try
Visitors pause to salute nature’s monarch
Standing in reverence as park’s landmark
The Woods change from season to season
Watching over all, is the King’s main reason
He holds on to his leaves longer in fall
Guarding the land in winter, always tall
His leaves take some time to fill out in spring
Providing ample shade in summer is his thing
His expansive canopy of branches spreads wide
Peeling off sections of bark, creates whitish sides
His heir, the Prince, waiting in the wings
Rising lean and tall by a creek, he sings
Farther away, a thick grove of younger ones wait
Dreaming who will grow to be the tallest, so great
Mister Sycamore loves many Bible stories
Lifting Jesus up in total and brilliant glory
The story of Zacchaeus climbing a Sycamore tree
Being much too short for Jesus to find, there he be
Ohio’s biggest recorded tree is an American Sycamore found in Ashland County near Jeromesville. The tree is at least 200 years old, stands 88 feet tall, and measures 326 inches around its circumference.
Big Sky Buckeye 