My Old Friend, The Sycamore

October 13, 2016 by JoAnna 9 Comments

I lay my hands on her again.

Like that first time

After I’d watched gusts lift her up

Again and again

Stretching her roots as she

Hung on for dear life to the earth

Causing her to lean ever since

to the west, over the neighbor’s yard.

Some would have cut her down

To avoid the risk.

But she has leaned like that

For many years

Through many storms.

In time, she grew another trunk

Slender yet sturdy, in the opposite direction

To balance herself.

Her roots reach down deep

To hold her strong and steady.

When a big storm approaches,

I go to her

And lay one hand

 On her huge rough trunk.

My other hand rests

On the smooth young offshoot.

I feel the energy

That keeps my hands

Joined to her.

We share strength

And a quiet knowing.

She has been with me

longer than most people.

Standing strong in the wind

__________________________________________________________

I wrote this for the sycamore tree that lives in my backyard. She’s still standing strong after Hurricane Matthew in spite of her westward lean. I imagined her roots holding on to the roots of the other trees during the storm.

After three days without electricity, the lights came back on Tuesday night. I’m still trying to catch up on blogs and emails. It will be a long time before I take electricity and warm showers for granted. But my friend and I never lost power.