Green thoughts

There is something about the lush lush greenness of a deep dark forest of pine trees -- the tall, invincible stillness of it -- that makes us ponder the firmness of our humanity. How long have we really been here, anyway? perhaps not so long as we often like to think. These forest views give us some much-needed perspective on ourselves and our way of being in the world and with other humans if not other living things. More on photos of trees and a story by Native American writer Sherman Alexie at blog.amynelsonhahn.info

Majesty

How far we have to go
most days these days
before we can rest our eyes
on anything like these
towering pines.
When we see them --
aching and arching
their spiny spires
deep into the realms
of mountains, the realms
of eagles, we catch our breath.
For a time at least we feel quite
simple and quite small in substance,
when standing thigh to thigh
with these green beasts.
We doff our hats, wipe our eyes,
and ascertain the difference
in years, the difference
in kingdoms.

Copyright (c) 2011 Amy Nelson Hahn

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