If Only Trees Could Talk

If Only Trees Could Talk By Dane Smith-Johnsen If only trees could talk there'd be so many things to learn. Old tales we'd hear of sweethearts that beneath their shade had kissed. Oh, lovely sights of nature that they saw before their fall. We'd hear of nearby habitats where snakes and possums hissed. We'd know how careless ravaging harms: Deer. Baboons. Raccoons. The Elephants, gazelles, and mice would seek the trees’ advice. And bears that sleep in wintertime could hear about the cold. Listening to great wisdom from the trees would be quite nice! And if the tree was old enough or passed along life's tales, Perhaps we'd see another view of slaves in history. The trees with years of wisdom could upon us shed some light. Then, man's impact upon the earth would not be mystery. Take Joseph serving Potiphar accused; that changed his life. The king could ask a nearby tree and behead the lying wife. Let's go a little further back, the serpent's words to Eve. He, twisting truth among the leaves, Eve might not have believed. If only trees could talk, we might protect them differently. Replenishing along the way, learned wisdom as our mark. Would we embrace the kindness every living thing deserves? Or would we cut our name into its life beneath tree's bark?