The Pine and the Bird

A pine tree grows high in the forest canopy,
his massive trunk signals grandeur.
With brown and orange bark
and dark branches scaling towards the sky.
An elder among us
with wounds and magnificence
holding stories of what’s come before and reassurance of what will come.
He has a place here, among us - the wind, the river, the forest, the ages.

Shhh, do you see her?
A little bird is working there.
A Titmouse or maybe a Nuthatch.
She moves along the tree trunk, searching for food.
She glides across the branches.
Small.
Quiet.
She grabs her next nibble unaware, or more likely, in unison with
The massive forces around her - the wind, the river, the forest, the ages.

We can barely see the little one.
She comes in and out of view.
Sometimes visible as she works.
Sometimes hidden by the growing things around her.

Oh little innocent.
Oh sweet one,
You continue in your delightful job of
existing
eating
flying
Even when we don’t see you.

Dearest pine,
oh grand sir.
Please remember among your needles and scars and torn branches
Is the small winged creature, tucked in there
thriving
exploring
frolicking
She is always there.
Even when we don’t see her.

The Pine and the Bird is the Soul Walk Project created by Margaret Krob, Elohee 2024 cohort.