Trees

BY JOYCE KILMER

I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in Summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.

It seemed fitting– the purchase of a new tree on Memorial Day. As I pondered our activities for the first summer holiday, the poem about a tree came to mind and reminded me of my mother. Whenever a person passed away, she always quoted this poem and how planting a tree would be a good memory.

I remembered her advice on several occasions. When a mother of a student passed away, we collected money and purchased a tree for the school property. When conversing with a friend on how distance from a burial site makes it difficult on Memorial Day, I recommended that she purchase a tree and plant it on her property.

Deciding upon a purchase of a tree takes more time than one would think. Where do you put it? What kind? Where do we purchase a tree? How do we transport it home? When should we plant it once it arrives?

We decided upon the tulip tree for two reasons; my mom always liked tulips and it’s the Indiana state tree so it should grow well.

The next step is to place something as a reminder. An engraved stone? A plaque? I don’t know yet, but I feel grateful that we could plant a tree on the first summer holiday after her passing.