The Tree and I

The Tree and I 

I met a tree today while walking under cloud ridden skies.  She was a young oak past her sapling age.  Her bare branches, still in winters hold, stood stark against an evergreen backdrop.  I felt her loneliness seep into my being, so I slipped over and gave her a hug.  I whispered to her, “I know lonely too”, and heard an audible sigh within her wind swept branches.

a young oak
stands bare in winter's keeping---
brown carpeted ground


After a length of time, undetermined, I slid to the ground and leaned against her trunk.  I was content to keep her company for a short time on such a dreary day. Nowhere else did I need to be.  No one else did I need to see. So, I leaned my head gently against her rough bark and as we both shared a quiet moment of contemplations. 

a woman sits
at the base of a tree---
cloud laden sky

Eventually I felt the cold and damp seeping into my skin and I shivered. The young oak felt this and spoke to the breeze in her highest limbs. She asked it to blow the clouds from the face of the sun so that we could both enjoy the warm rays… and so it was that we were both sun kissed on this early morning day. 

clouds drift
away from the sun---
a girl smiles

This soon became a daily ritual, loneliness drifting away with each visit. She listened to me, as I listened to her, and time flew more quickly by.  Spring arrived before we knew it as the young oak beamed with her new buds. It seemed our visits now became less lonely, filled as we were with the awakening of Mother Earth. 

new buds
on a young oak---
birds singing

I shared with her and her with me, throughout the winter’s days. We laughed together and wept together during the longest of lackluster days.  A friendship formed of kindred spirits that helped chase the blues away.  With spring’s awakening, our confidence gaining, we rejoice in the birth of each new day.    

green grass
returns to the lawn---
daffodils bloom



All Rights Reserved @ Debra Squyres 2013
Form:  haibun  (mixture of prose and haiku)

Copyright © | Year Posted 2013



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Date: 3/31/2013 1:19:00 PM
Hi Debra: A wonderful poem and you brought to life the magical dryad spirit that exists in every tree. Thanks for an engrossing read. Tree hugs, ;-) SuZ
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Date: 3/7/2013 3:57:00 PM
!!! Congrats on your great winning work..Sara
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Date: 3/6/2013 7:50:00 PM
Ditto to Carrie's comment, Debra! This I truly love! I am definitely adding this to my favs. Congratulations for a job well done! Always, Annalise
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Date: 3/6/2013 5:42:00 PM
Oh, Debra........I would have placed this as a top poem! I love the way you made the tree so human....just beautiful !! Congratulations to you!!
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Date: 3/6/2013 4:21:00 PM
Yours truly was one of the best. BIG congrats to you.
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Date: 3/6/2013 3:12:00 PM
Debra so many wonderful poems in this contest. Congrats on your well deserved win. Warm Smiles, Connie
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Date: 3/5/2013 9:40:00 PM
Debra, ;-) Congratulations with your nice winning poem in Debbie's "Spring haibun" contest... xox~LINDA
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Date: 3/5/2013 7:05:00 PM
I loved the story, hugging a tree or sitting with one is truly a great experience. Congrad's on your win. Light & Love
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Date: 2/13/2013 11:53:00 AM
Requainted spirits in different forms. Two hearts the spring sun gently warms. Yes, a tree's soul tenderly displayed. It's gratitude as it's branches swayed. It seemed so lonely, yet serene. It's amazing what a tree can mean. :)
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Date: 2/11/2013 5:03:00 PM
this is really awesome writing from you, and I see Debs down here is pleased too. One of your best. Very original and sweet too. I heard of Romancing the Stone, and now we have Romancing the Tree!! Luv, Andrea
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Date: 2/10/2013 6:53:00 PM
Thanks for your comments. I love this poem. Trees are always there and they are mostly ignored.
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Date: 2/7/2013 3:39:00 PM
This is a gorgeous piece. I was captivated from start to finish. You should be very proud of this one.
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Date: 2/7/2013 12:24:00 PM
an amazing interlacing of prose and poetry with lovely images ...thanks for sharing,and good luck in the contest...
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Date: 2/7/2013 9:58:00 AM
This is a wonderful perfect poem and a living dream world. Oh to be so talented!
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Squyres Avatar
Debra Squyres
Date: 2/7/2013 10:24:00 AM
It was indeed based on a dream and an experience. Thank you for your kind words.
Date: 2/7/2013 8:04:00 AM
Wow gal that is some momentous progress, I bet you are beaming ear to ear! My only input would be to PERHAPS! rethink line 3 in haiku 2, no no worries just wonderful look two times out of the box and YOU get exquiste! Light & Love
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Date: 2/7/2013 5:02:00 AM
Debra, you are absolutely amazing!!!!! - From deep in my heart : GORGEOUS!!!!!! - Have a lovely day. - oxox / / Anne-Lise :)
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Date: 2/7/2013 4:21:00 AM
this would have to be one of your best poems i've read Debra,, such a joy to read....
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Date: 2/6/2013 8:55:00 PM
Wow, what the amazing write my friend! I really enjoyed reading this fabulous poem this evening! I loved the story you painted so tenderly, I like a good tree poem! What a terrific piece, Great Work!!
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