A poem lovely as a tree.
From "Trees" by Joyce Kilmer
This monster of a tree stands near the east bank of the Rock River in Janesville's Traxler Park.
It's huge.
Many, many birds were chirping, singing, and chattering away on its branches when I stopped to look at it the other day.
Judging by sight, since I left my protractor at home that might have provided an angle with which I could have more accurately calculated its height, I'm confident it towers close to 60' above the ground.
It might look taller because none of its neighbors are close in size. As a kid, I recall there being more mature trees in the park. This one would take four to five grown men to reach hands around it. The tree stands alone.
Lovely trees as these are touched by the winds and weather of time. Roots anchor it in place and shoot out a network of avenues to gather nourishment.
Years, decades, and likely a century or two have rolled past the tree like the river that flows past. It's "seen" and witnessed much in its lifetime, possibly going all the way back to a young presidential candidate's visit to Janesville. You may have heard of him, Lincoln was his name.
On hills blanketed by trees of different types and sizes, we may not see these grandfathers of our day and age.
When you find one, stop and take a look. Walk around it, look and listen for the birds, squirrels and animals that live in the arboreal city. Visit often and mark some of the seasons that mark our years and flip past like fence posts to the trees.
A tree of any size is lovely - trees like this are worthy of a full volume of the best poetry.
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