Iny your trees in your arms.. I have coveted the wind the birds the bees And all the singing in the trees. For life itself is given there in the grove in the blossom In the fruit of spring.., The dead of winter. You live again, when breath comes to my life Lift me aloft.. - to the stars at night. I am thankful, no, grateful. You of all Beings Have seen me through the darkest night. I love you so. Cherish our memory together. The times, the tales the wales, laughter..and tears. You held me there in your bosom. Close to your breast.. Close to your nest. I bless you now as you go on your way Fallen to the axe to find another day. Thank you for your shelter,.. Your kind embrace.. Your story goes on forever, Held heart to heart in forevers Embrace. God love you all. nj ~ for the trees clearcut today for a parking lot...

Oh, nj, it's like Joni Mitchell's song, "They paved paradise, and put up a parking lot....":( That is a beautiful poem. I too love trees, and am always sad to see them fall. Thanks for this lovely ode to the grace and shelter they provide. Love ya', Jacquie

Thank you, Jolie, for your kind reply. My heart just breaks to come home every day and see the destruction. I avoid it by going to the garden after work and letting the garden heal me before returning home. Thank goodness for the refuge. I have been doing metta and trying to find a place of compassion, understanding, and perhaps emptiness.. The birds left 2 days after the first trees were felled. Squirrel - the family of squirrels, about 4 of them, stuck around for few days looking very bewildered and lost. Their trees, favored trees have since been cut and I have not seen them since. Cardinal was singing this morning in the usual place, sounding very sad. His tree was cut today and I wonder if he will return in the morning. It's so quiet around here without the birds to greet the morning and to end the day. The wind is silent too. So much bizarre bright light, it changes everything. Street lights glare through now... I felt like an earthquake happened today. I wonder if the deer will return at all. It was part of their regular path and they came here to feed at dusk. It's not just trees, but the loss of a whole community. Home to cardinal, robin, woodpecker, sparrow, deer, squirrel, ant, spider, walnut, maple, pine (all with full crowns), lilac, pear tree, apple tree, and many more. I keep thinking this is beyond me and belongs to a higher power. Part of me is hoping the trees and this land, this precious land, will teach me as much in death as it had it life. I need to go home soon and get it sorted out. This is such a strange world. I just want to scream. This was one of the last green spaces between here and campus, about a mile, a place of quiet and beauty. I miss my friends dearly...and concentrate to focus on the beauty that is left... If all this sounds odd to you, then know this was the place that held me, cradled me in the throes of intense perimeno anxiety, depression, and loneliness. I am so grateful for the gift that was received here. Love to you all... .

I am sorry to hear of your loss and that of your animal neighbours, NJ. Like you living creatures and natural spaces are very important to me as healing places so I can relate to your loss. A few years back I lived in a large city and I had a short list of nature spots which I could visit to heal myself. My favorites were, of course ones that took the least amount of time and driving to get to. I had a few that I could walk to. The very best spots had no (or virtually no) sound of car traffic and as little as possible of overhead air traffic. All my favorite spots featured water. The sound of running water is immensely soothing to me. I had to drive to get to the best of my favorite spots. Now I live in a very small (boring) village and nature is around me. When I first arrived here I used to sit and smile at the freshness and beauty. Often I felt quite ill, with no good days, yet the natural setting would bring me up in spirits. This spring I put up a hummingbird feeder and the beauty of those tiny birds touchs my heart. Yesterday one flew in my open door and hovered a few feet from me looking at me. I was wearing a floral print dress, perhaps that is why?

{{NJ}} Like WH and Jacquie, I ADORE nature and all it's glorious splendor and am saddened by your loss. You've written a beautiful poem through which you have shown gratitude and your respect for nature. I hope you little friends find new homes near to you so that you may continue to enjoy each other. Huggs

WH, I have two hummingbird feeders hanging from my patio roof and have spent many hours watching these fascinating tiny creatures. They are quite friendly once they know we mean them no harm and are often fluttering just in front of my face sort of like they are saying thanks for taking care of them. I am so looking forward to doing the landscaping projects we have planned so that the doves and the quail family (parents & 5 babies) have more interesting places to discover and enjoy. I also look forward to having and enjoying such a sanctuary. Huggs

Nj, I bet many people passed that space without realizing the teeming life within it, but not only did you notice, you felt it as a community. As you say, this is precious. Bless you for noticing.

Thanks everyone, for your kind replies.. Let them touch you... Update: Two deer with fawns came through a couple days ago. I had been at the garden and returned at dusk to find the fawns frolicking with their mothers... I wonder if they were twins. This was the first time to have the privilege of watching the young ones running across the field and playing with one another. The deer partook of the leaves of the fallen trees and I have learned... A new beginning. The last grandmother felled today - the lot is barren and silent. Fully open to the sun, stars...moon. Only time will tell. I've been leaving early and taking refuge in the garden, 4 miles drive away, just to be able to hear the birds, sit in the shade of the tree, and feel the wind across my skin. I had hoped not to bear witness to this, but now make plans for going on... Love you all... Thanks for your teachings...