by ann e krueger 2000

Ruth and her friends plant one thousand
red spruce seedlings near the mouth of
First Fork on a quiet, foggy day in a
place full of life as her father-in-law
lies dying.

Bryan feels the place is watching him as he
plants. The trees, water, soil, animals, birds.
he thinks the place is in the habit of cringing
every time a human comes near. He senses
the place watches, appreciates being cared
for, relaxes.

Al plants willows, oaks, pear, apple, plum,
chestnut, pine. Some succumb to disease,
some get eaten by deer or beavers. He won’t
see them grow to be taller than he is, but his
children will.

Elzeard Bouffier* planted a forest of oak trees
one acorn at a time in an ancient European region.
He transformed desolate war-torn hillsides with
beech and valleys with birch. He did not
live to see his trees tower over his head.

He did see birds return to scatter more seeds. He
heard leaves rustle in the wind, and felt cool shade
in summer. He saw water return to dry creek
beds and heard people talk about the forest.

*from The Man Who Planted Trees by Jean Giono