I spent some time today taking photos of the tree we’ve had in our front yard for the last thirteen plus years. We have come to call it Paul’s tree because we had it planted on the first year anniversary of Paul’s death. I’ve mentioned it here in the past after a particularly bad trimming job (see December 5, 2010, June 30, 2012, and July 22, 2012). Unfortunately, I won’t have to complain about that anymore. Next week our gardeners are going to remove it completely, and we’ll replace it with a much smaller and less invasive substitute.
I’m also memorialized it in a poem just published in True Words from Real Women: An Anthology of Life Writing by the Women of the Story Circle Network (November 2013).
Paul’s Tree
It has to be a climbing tree, I say
to replace the one
he used to climb as a boy,
to remind me of him
sitting in the wide Vee
of the upper branches
smiling and proud
of his climbing success.
I settle on a small coral tree
that promises pinky orange blooms
and strong branches for climbing and sitting
and place it in its designated spot
exactly one year after his death.
In the thirteen years since,
Paul’s tree has produced
dark green leaves
the coral flowers are few
and branches that shoot out
wide and tall from its
When it gets its yearly trim.
I cry, don’t take too much away,
but the hackers always do.
Except they can’t fix its damage.
The driveway cracked and
last week the plumbers
dug a hole as deep as a grave
that butted against it,
chopping away its roots
to take out a broken pipe.
They shake their heads and say,
It has to go or your troubles will never stop.
I shake my head no.
But I know it’s grown too large.
Its roots undermine and its thick
and full branches let no sun shine through.
The day will have to come to replace it
with some red-blooming wispy thing,
and a single miniature trunk that will do
no boy who likes to climb any good.
Madeline, your heart-wrenching poem leaves me at a loss for words. So lovely. So bittersweet. Sending hugs.
Blessings,
Kathy
Thank you for your always kind words, Kathy. So glad to see you here. Hugs back to you, M.