Yes, poison into blessing. We have so much to learn from trees. Amanda's poetry makes me want to run outside right now, lean up against a trunk, and listen.
I had a very strange encounter this evening. I was standing at the bottom of our driveway, just after sunset and a neighbor, I only know the name of her dog, pulls over and begins to talk excitedly about Tolkien. She is well aware two of our dogs have been named from The Lord of The Rings; Strider and Ranger ( Aragorn , the King) . She begins talking about the Ents and of course we carry on for a while, obviously, sharing a love of all things Tolkien. I told her, all we know of the Entwives is , they ‘were lost and never found again’ , we continued on in detailed discussion , in the dark no less, drifting through scenarios of where could they have gone. She was fascinated. We part ways and I checked phone and Stack messages while heading up the driveway. And, here you are Kimberly, wishing for enchanted possibilities, of an Ent life. Crazy coincidences led me to search a bit, because dear Kimberly, if there are no Ent wives , then your fairytale will never come true.
I am thrilled to have found this. An incredible recording . I am a child giddy for my bedtime story, I’m putting on my P.J’s now. Below is the written poem .
And what a great scene: you and your neighbor enchanted by your imaginings, longing to know what happened to the Entwives, the dark night blanketing you into a womb of wonder. 🙏
Thank you for your beautiful poem. If you look up quotes from Tolkien, you will find an endless amount about trees, making it difficult for me to choose a favorite. Even ancient trees with language, telling tales ( very slowly and lengthy) of Ent civilizations.
just this morning upon awakening i thought of a passage in my book where the protagonist is walking thru his city with a 10,000 year old shaman
"The shaman breaks his gaze and turns to look at Han, his mouth begins to form a question, 'So where is your tribe?'
'Uh. Oh, we don’t really have tribes.” The Shaman is staring at Han. He picks up his bone whistle and plays his tune."
they are in a magical collaborative reality where han wants to know how the ancient people lived and the ancient shaman wants to know what happened to his place / there are many startling wonders for the shaman to contemplate and not having a tribe is one of the strangest but that's how we live and we have gotten used to it
I agree, Amanda (and the trees and the ancient societies) got it right—living in dynamic conversation with our brothers and sisters (human, plant, mineral and animal), symbiosis over competition, is the way to go. ;)
“I know how to cling to life…”. That’s the central line this poem for me. About seven years ago I cut down my neighbor’s basswood tree because it was blocking the satellite signal to our TV dishes. I told her I’d do it for nothing if I got to keep the trunk to build guitars from. The tree was growing about six inches from the foundation of her house and it would have to go anyway. I couldn’t cut all of the trunk because it was so close to the masonry and I had to leave a stump about 2 1/2 feet high. Now, years later, that stump sends up branches and leaves every spring and I have to trim them from time to time. What’s more, this stump has sent out roots into my yard that have sprouted up into three little basswood trees. I tried to transplant two of them to the back of my yard but they died. I’m letting third one grow so my two walnut trees will have some company. I don’t know about maples, but basswood trees sure know how to cling to life!
I love this so much Rafael! Reminds me of the trees here in Oregon. Fir stumps left-over from logging now have new maples, ferns and firs growing from them, the moist bark a perfect, loamy medium for virtually any seed to sprout. ;)
That’s a lovely poem and I forgot to thank you for sharing it. My comments tend to turn into something on the word-count of War and Peace if I’m not careful. When I was a kid our neighborhood was guarded by rows of tall, symmetrical vase-shaped elms, but the Dutch Elm Disease killed them all. The remaining trees were mostly maples, but the past thirty years we’ve had a profusion of walnut trees all over the neighborhood. Walnuts have very shallow roots and from time to time a sixty-mile gust will bring one down. But a new walnut tree will often sprout just a few feet from where the old one fell. I just love cats and trees too!
What a wonderful story of the persistence of life in pursuit of itself Rafael, thank you for sharing it and I love that the poem brought it to mind. 🌿♥️🌻
So many amazing writers. So much to glean and chew upon. Thanks Kimberly, I loved that.
I highly recommend following Amanda. Her poetry is lasting and transformative.
So gorgeous and potent!
"They say I am no stranger to ruin
or being pulled apart by panic.
I know how to stand up,
make poison into blessing,
to break in two and survive,
I know how to cling to life
with a heart laid bare."
Yes, poison into blessing. We have so much to learn from trees. Amanda's poetry makes me want to run outside right now, lean up against a trunk, and listen.
I’m so glad it resonated deeply with you Alisa. What majestic teachers trees can be. ✨🌿🫶🏼
“…say yes when the wind says dance.”
Thank you Kimberly. I’ve never met a tree I didn’t like, or a poem that speaks a kind word about trees.
When Summer lies upon the world, and in a noon of gold, Beneath the roof of sleeping leaves the dreams of trees unfold
J.R.R. Tolkien
If reincarnation is a thing, I'd like to come back as a wee little Ent in a forest of grandma and grandpa Ents.
I had a very strange encounter this evening. I was standing at the bottom of our driveway, just after sunset and a neighbor, I only know the name of her dog, pulls over and begins to talk excitedly about Tolkien. She is well aware two of our dogs have been named from The Lord of The Rings; Strider and Ranger ( Aragorn , the King) . She begins talking about the Ents and of course we carry on for a while, obviously, sharing a love of all things Tolkien. I told her, all we know of the Entwives is , they ‘were lost and never found again’ , we continued on in detailed discussion , in the dark no less, drifting through scenarios of where could they have gone. She was fascinated. We part ways and I checked phone and Stack messages while heading up the driveway. And, here you are Kimberly, wishing for enchanted possibilities, of an Ent life. Crazy coincidences led me to search a bit, because dear Kimberly, if there are no Ent wives , then your fairytale will never come true.
I am thrilled to have found this. An incredible recording . I am a child giddy for my bedtime story, I’m putting on my P.J’s now. Below is the written poem .
Enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vcpv4MsIQQ
The Ent and the Ent-wife
J.R.R. Tolkien
ENT:
When Spring unfolds the beechen leaf, and sap is in the bough;
When light is on the wild-wood stream, and wind is on the brow;
When stride is long, and breath is deep, and keen the mountain-air,
Come back to me! Come back to me, and say my land is fair!
ENTWIFE:
When Spring is come to garth and field, and corn is in the blade;
When blossom like a shining snow is on the orchard laid;
When shower and Sun upon the Earth with fragrance fill the air,
I'll linger here, and will not come, because my land is fair.
ENT:
When Summer lies upon the world, and in a noon of gold
Beneath the roof of sleeping leaves the dreams of trees unfold;
When woodland halls are green and cool, and wind is in the West,
Come back to me! Come back to me, and say my land is best!
ENTWIFE:
When Summer warms the hanging fruit and burns the berry brown;
When straw is gold, and ear is white, and harvest comes to town;
When honey spills, and apple swells, though wind be in the West,
I'll linger here beneath the Sun, because my land is best!
ENT:
When Winter comes, the winter wild that hill and wood shall slay;
When trees shall fall and starless night devour the sunless day;
When wind is in the deadly East, then in the bitter rain
I'll look for thee, and call to thee; I'll come to thee again!
ENTWIFE:
When Winter comes, and singing ends; when darkness falls at last;
When broken is the barren bough, and light and labour past;
I'll look for thee, and wait for thee, until we meet again:
Together we will take the road beneath the bitter rain!
BOTH:
Together we will take the road that leads into the West, And far away will find a land where both our hearts may rest.
Oh what serendipity! Long live the Entwife!
And what a great scene: you and your neighbor enchanted by your imaginings, longing to know what happened to the Entwives, the dark night blanketing you into a womb of wonder. 🙏
Such a beautiful quote from Tolkien, Lor 🌿
Thank you for your beautiful poem. If you look up quotes from Tolkien, you will find an endless amount about trees, making it difficult for me to choose a favorite. Even ancient trees with language, telling tales ( very slowly and lengthy) of Ent civilizations.
I will, thank you for the nudge Lor! ✨🌿✨
"I hold time and seeds of a new world,
I know what is lost when we forget.
We belong to each other."
just this morning upon awakening i thought of a passage in my book where the protagonist is walking thru his city with a 10,000 year old shaman
"The shaman breaks his gaze and turns to look at Han, his mouth begins to form a question, 'So where is your tribe?'
'Uh. Oh, we don’t really have tribes.” The Shaman is staring at Han. He picks up his bone whistle and plays his tune."
they are in a magical collaborative reality where han wants to know how the ancient people lived and the ancient shaman wants to know what happened to his place / there are many startling wonders for the shaman to contemplate and not having a tribe is one of the strangest but that's how we live and we have gotten used to it
i think amanda got it right
I agree, Amanda (and the trees and the ancient societies) got it right—living in dynamic conversation with our brothers and sisters (human, plant, mineral and animal), symbiosis over competition, is the way to go. ;)
Your book sounds intriguing Rohn! I’m so glad the poem resonated 🙏
Love that poem. And the photo you took of the Mother Maple is glorious.
Thank you Teyani. I agree, it's a poem to remember for all time.
And glad you liked my Mother Maple! There are many out here in the PNW!
🙏🌿✨
Your mother Maple photo is amazing!
Thank you Grace!
“Say yes when the wind says dance.” — love it!
I’m so glad Michael! 🌿
Gorgeous! Thank you for sharing Amanda. May we not forget. May we dance when the wind calls. 💨💫
Amanda's book of poetry is on my bedstand and it such a potent, soulful balm.
☺️🙏♥️
My pleasure Holly, these poems are always a potent reminder to self too 🙏
Aw, yes, among the many wonderful reasons to write. ♥️
“I know how to cling to life…”. That’s the central line this poem for me. About seven years ago I cut down my neighbor’s basswood tree because it was blocking the satellite signal to our TV dishes. I told her I’d do it for nothing if I got to keep the trunk to build guitars from. The tree was growing about six inches from the foundation of her house and it would have to go anyway. I couldn’t cut all of the trunk because it was so close to the masonry and I had to leave a stump about 2 1/2 feet high. Now, years later, that stump sends up branches and leaves every spring and I have to trim them from time to time. What’s more, this stump has sent out roots into my yard that have sprouted up into three little basswood trees. I tried to transplant two of them to the back of my yard but they died. I’m letting third one grow so my two walnut trees will have some company. I don’t know about maples, but basswood trees sure know how to cling to life!
I love this so much Rafael! Reminds me of the trees here in Oregon. Fir stumps left-over from logging now have new maples, ferns and firs growing from them, the moist bark a perfect, loamy medium for virtually any seed to sprout. ;)
That’s a lovely poem and I forgot to thank you for sharing it. My comments tend to turn into something on the word-count of War and Peace if I’m not careful. When I was a kid our neighborhood was guarded by rows of tall, symmetrical vase-shaped elms, but the Dutch Elm Disease killed them all. The remaining trees were mostly maples, but the past thirty years we’ve had a profusion of walnut trees all over the neighborhood. Walnuts have very shallow roots and from time to time a sixty-mile gust will bring one down. But a new walnut tree will often sprout just a few feet from where the old one fell. I just love cats and trees too!
I could read your war and peace tales of trees for days Rafael, thank you for sharing them! 🫶🏼🌿✨
Trees are family, that why they get so many hugs.....
What a wonderful story of the persistence of life in pursuit of itself Rafael, thank you for sharing it and I love that the poem brought it to mind. 🌿♥️🌻
"Before I knew myself as a tree,
I might have believed them.
Now I know if that were really true,
we may as well already be dead.
Now I have ears to the ground and stars,
I hear those calling for the other way."
Powerful lyrics!
Thank you so much for sharing 💚🙏 🌲✨
Yes, we need "the other way" more than ever. Ears to the ground AND the stars, this is what will save us.
I’m so glad you enjoyed the poem Veronika 🙏
What a gorgeous poem. Thank you for sharing.
I’m so glad it found you Ollie 🌿
Wow, that photo!
Beautiful powerful poem.
"I will not be desensitized,
only explained in widening circles"
This line...
"Now I have ears to the ground and stars,
I hear those calling for the other way."
of course, reminded me of
“Love is a tree with branches in forever with roots in eternity and a trunk nowhere at all”
I just might be quoting from The Overstory for forever more... xx
OHMYGOD. Thank you for reminding me of that line. Yes, Overstory forever and ever. Amanda, if you haven't read it yet, you must!
I have had that book on my bookshelf for years and haven’t read it. Now might be the time! Thank you both for the nudge xxx
Such an honour to have ‘When the Wind Says Dance’ featured in your newsletter Kimberly, thank you ☺️🌿🌻
Oh gosh, it's so easy to share you. I could sing all your poems from the hilltops!
🥰🙏🌿
I’m so glad it was, Amanda. It’s gorgeous. I subscribed to your stack and look forward to exploring more of your work. ♥️
Thank you Holly 🫶🏼 so wonderful to connect with you! ✨💖✨ I love that the poem and Kimberly’s generous spirit facilitated it xx
Me too!
Beautiful. I love that title.
🫶🏼🌿✨
Love this!