THE COPPER BEECH BY MARIE HOWE

Immense, entirely itself,

it wore that yard like a dress,

with limbs low enough for me to enter it

and climb the crooked ladder to where

I could lean against the trunk and practice being alone.

One day, I heard the sound before I saw it, rain fell

darkening the sidewalk.

Sitting close to the center, not very high in the branches,

I heard it hitting the high leaves, and I was happy,

watching it happen without it happening to me.

(C) Marie Howe

• Did you have a favorite tree in your childhood? What kind of tree was it? What did you love about them? Explore your answers in your journal. And let us know the name of your favorite tree, below.

• What is the safest place you’ve ever felt outdoors? What made you feel safe? How would you like to bring more of that sense of security into your life? Explore your answers in your journey.

• Write a character sketch of your favorite tree (in prose or poetry), as if you were creating a portrait in words. Remember to include attitude, as the poet did when she writes, “wore that yard like a dress.” Also, scent, texture, anything else that you recall.