We find beauty not in the thing itself but in the patterns of shadows, the light and the darkness, that one thing against another creates…Were it not for shadows, there would be no beauty. –Junichiro Tanizaki, In Praise of Shadows, 1933 I don’t know about you, but I really need time to slow down a … Continue reading #ThursdayTreeLove | TreeArt Part II: Shadow and Light
The tree which moves some to tears of joy is in the eyes of others only a green thing that stands in the way. Some see nature all ridicule and deformity… and some scarce see nature at all. But to the eyes of the [wo]man of imagination, nature is imagination itself. William Blake, Letters from … Continue reading #ThursdayTreeLove | TreeArt Part I: The Sculptor
For the previous #ThursdayTreeLove we traveled to Italy. Today, we’ll hop over to Germany with a photograph shot by my pen friend Eileen V. She kindly gave me permission to share here [Thank you, Eileen!]. The photo features a very old lime tree with Schloss Solitude [Solitude Palace] in the background. I am drawn to … Continue reading #ThursdayTreeLove | Solitude and Lime
I found an adorable poem today when I went to play with Earth Stanzas. It was written by 11-year-old Fatou M’baye, a 5th grader in Kent Ohio. I am not only impressed with her poetic skills but I am also impressed with her mature relationship with trees. Thank You, Tree Fatou M’baye Tree, you put … Continue reading #ThursdayTreeLove | “Thank You, Tree”
For me, the hardest part about this lockdown situation is having to miss my time with the trees. Unless we’re going to replenish supplies, we can go no further than our neighborhoods, but our youngish neighborhood has no splendid trees shooting way up to the sky. Earlier this week while my hubby ran into a … Continue reading #ThursdayTreeLove | No Poem as Lovely as a Tree
For there is hope for a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its shoots will not cease. –Job 14:7 Today was one of those days. I’d been staring at screens all day–reviewing essays, entering grade book items, meeting with students in the virtual classroom, and responding to emails. … Continue reading #ThursdayTreeLove | Something Hopeful…
Sweet memories are timeless treasures of the heart. It’s late and I am overwhelmed [not panicked] by “all the things” and all the COVID-19 precautions and contingencies. I find it necessary to pause the madness of planning and class preparations to share a little #treelove this evening. This is not the post I planned, but … Continue reading #ThursdayTreeLove | A Sweet Remembrance
“Advice from a Tree” Ilan Shamir Dear Friend, Stand tall and proud Sink your roots deeply into the Earth Reflect the light of a greater source Think long term Go out on a limb Remember your place among all living beings Embrace with joy the changing seasons For each yields its own abundance The energy … Continue reading #ThursdayTreeLove | Advice from a Tree
How do you see that tree? It’s [blue]? Well then, make it [blue], the best [blue] on your palette. –Reduction of Paul Gaugin’s advice to his student Paul Sérusier [The actual quote below] This has been the most rainy and dismal winter I’ve experienced yet. I was certain I would lose my mind if I … Continue reading #ThursdayTreeLove | Blue
Beauty remains in nature, sun, freedom and yourself. If you just look for it, you discover yourself and God, you will stand out. –Anne Frank My guys and I rediscovered the treasures above in the backyard a windy afternoon two weeks ago. The top photo features the remains of a log that once held a … Continue reading #ThursdayTreeLove | Beauty Remains
