Ponderings of a tree !

Recently, a friend, Anna, shared a writing prompt with me — “The Ponderings of a Tree.”

This post is inspired by that prompt.

I love nature — the flowers, the trees.

Growing up in India, the tall and majestic trees of my childhood were mango, tamarind, coconut, and guava.

My siblings and I used to climb up on some of them when we were little. I do not have any pictures of those.

Here, in the US, they are Oak, sycamore, Elm, Maple, Magnolia and I don't know some of their names.

But my connection to them hasn’t changed one bit. I still feel drawn to them.

And when I see one, my instinct is simple: go hug that tree.

Here are a few pictures of those.

So when she shared the above prompt,
the words just flowed . This is my first time writing a poem.

The Ponderings of a Tree

Come here my child, what’s bothering you?

You look sad, weary.

Talk to me, tell me about it.

Share your sorrow.

Lay it on me.

I have been standing here for a few decades now,

Perhaps for more than a century,

In rain and shine.

Nobody notices me.

But you do.

I see you pass by me;

While the others just continue to walk by, drive by

And ignore me,

You pause and look at me.

You see me, you notice me.

Every now and then, you give me hug.

It makes me incredibly happy.

But today I see the sadness in your eyes.

And while I physically cannot hug you,

I can provide you with some shade.

You can hug me.

They say that hugs are more powerful than words.

Share your story, your thoughts, lay it on me.

Your secrets will be safe with me.

I am not going anywhere; I am here to stay.

And while you are here, please gather some seeds,

A pinecone or some acorns.

Scatter them, plant them.

They will grow into ME someday,

tall, majestic, beautiful like me.

Come here my child, lay it on me.

Every time I hug a tree, I feel grounded — as if, for a moment, its decades of quiet strength are flowing into me.

Do you have a favorite tree? Are you a tree hugger??
Have you ever stopped, really stopped, to notice it?

P.S. I wrote this poem last year, just now getting to post it here.

Thankful to all the family and friends who indulge me into my indulgence.

Here are some more pictures.

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