Lilly-Pilly, Tree ID 1285751
In Melbourne people write love letters to trees assigned an email.
Dearest Ulmus, one begins, your branches are so attractive
but you must get that all the time.
Oh golden elm, I am sorry you are going to die so soon. You look as tired
of all this construction as we are.
Some send their thank yous. TY, Algerian oak, for life giving oxygen.
One gets an email from far away Mississippi,
Tree to tree.
I am Alba just saying, “hi y'all”
not well travelled, but a perfect perch for squirrels.
I know Kiwis don’t have those little pests,
but you Aussies shouldn't have em down under either.
All fine dynamic civic engagements!
In Chicago there are odes to potholes.
If they get deep enough they garner a name.
In Honolulu you can adopt a tsunami siren,
report any problems, send warnings,
or just let it be known...surf’s up!
Adopt this, adopt that. Adopt a brick or a park bench.
Many city parks let you communicate with a bench webcam,
our objects are not just things but acquaintances.
Once my bench got hate mail for just being there!
evil did i dwell, lewd did i live.
vile evil did live, evil did live vile...
so I changed its number!
Lilly-Pilly, Tree ID 1285751 desires to be known.
They all desire to be known by more than just a number...
Growing fond and fonder, helped along by the internet of things,
wisdom of a secret place worth saving,
they recently bestowed human rights on a river. Iwi, it's now a living entity!
From rainforest to Italian olive of four hundred years,
we used to carve initials of love like M & W.
Now imagine, you could talk to a tree you once loved long ago.
This week of the highest pollen count, I say,
“Hello Billow,
So many times I have set reading in your gentle crook.
Dearest willow,
your thin green whip like branches dance shadows in the summer sun’s limit
you solve for clear cutting, you solve all the world’s problems for one minute,
mesmerized by your question mark branch of flying silk bow ties
absorbing pond’s splash, humidity, and night’s dew right before my eyes;
whistling bottles block the heat and fan the breeze like a kite tail,
a longing appreciation, a life long fascination, just a short love letter, an email.”
