[Written in honor of 'National Tree Week' in Ireland. March 10th. 2004]
As I sit at my desk
To write my poetry
I think of the statuesque
Beautiful English pine tree
From which it was made
Along with its American cousins
Sacrificed to the timber trade
For our everyday convenience
Many things around the house
Originated from a tree
But not the computer mouse
That is man-made technology
This paper I understand
Was once a growing commodity
And the pencil in my hand
That too came from a tree
A tree has many uses
Giving oxygen to the atmosphere
Tissues made to wipe our noses
And dab from our eye a tear!
[There are ten-thousand different species of trees and one-thousand are in the USA www.arborday.org/TreeCityUSA.
"The leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations" - Revelation 22:2]
The Dreams of Three Trees.
The Olive tree dreamt that it would be used to make a great treasure-chest that would hold the most precious jewels. Wood cutters made it into a manger.
The Oak tree dreamt that it would be used to make a huge ship to carry Kings across oceans. It was cut down and made into a small fishing boat.
The Pine tree dreamt that it would stand on top of the highest mountain forever. A bolt of lightening knocked it down and Roman soldiers cut into two distinct pieces.
The manger became the manger of Bethlehem.
The fishing boat became the boat in the storm on Lake Galilee.
The two distinct pieces of wood became the Cross!
Florida's State tree is the Cabbage palm (Sabal Palmetto)