28 Comments
User's avatar
Shondra Bowie's avatar

I love the ways in which the answer! Such beauty.

26thAvenuePoet (Elizabeth)'s avatar

They have their own language, trees! Thanks always for reading, Shondra.

Melanie Bettinelli's avatar

" “And do they ever answer?”

I heard myself ask, as if that were a reasonable question"

I love that.

Getting ready to take our tree down tomorrow. Will try to remember to say "thank you."

26thAvenuePoet (Elizabeth)'s avatar

I hope you do! Thanks so much for reading and commenting, Melanie. (And subscribing, too!)

Weston Parker's avatar

We keep the tree all dolled up until practically whenever but probably sometime in March I am snipping off branches and feeding them in the fire, they produce a lot of drama. thanks Elizabeth

26thAvenuePoet (Elizabeth)'s avatar

O yes, extra-dry fir and pine branches are a great show in the fireplace! We take our joys where we find them....

Weston Parker's avatar

So true.

Francesca's avatar

This is so, so lovely. Thank you! I love that I was surprised by the ending!

26thAvenuePoet (Elizabeth)'s avatar

Thank you, Francesca! I wasn't surprised so much by the scratch-you-back tree, but I was surprised that the poem ended right there. It was just done, nothing more for me to do without making a mess. Surprising poems are the best.

Francesca's avatar

🌲 💚

Kavitha's avatar

Breathtaking! 🩷

26thAvenuePoet (Elizabeth)'s avatar

Thanks so much for reading, Kavitha! 💛🌿

Barbara Webb's avatar

I understand goats like to munch on them.

Auntie B

26thAvenuePoet (Elizabeth)'s avatar

Let me know when we get a herd of goats foraging in the Avenues. 😂🌿🐐

Sherri Maurin's avatar

Good morning, Elizabeth--I am so appreciative, as I always am, how you bring to our attention those things that are often overlooked, and give voice to them.......A Christmas tree on a sidewalk waiting to be recycled......thank you for animating it - yes, I am grateful for the beauty and the light the trees bring to us each season.

26thAvenuePoet (Elizabeth)'s avatar

Thank you for such appreciative and receptive reading, Sherri. 💛🌿

Kim Nelson's avatar

That turn at the end is luscious!

26thAvenuePoet (Elizabeth)'s avatar

Thanks for noticing that, Kim! 💛🌿

just mud by Ron's avatar

They're sure still speaking to us, Elizabeth. You really capture their words. Ours is resting underneath the bird feeder. And the birds are consoling.

26thAvenuePoet (Elizabeth)'s avatar

Oh, lovely! Glad to hear it, Ron.

Margaret Ann Silver's avatar

I love this: “Still, they pay the price for my gladness.”

26thAvenuePoet (Elizabeth)'s avatar

Thank you, Margaret Ann. 💛🌿

Jeni Hankins's avatar

Yes!!! Thank you, Elizabeth. Every time. The tingles.

26thAvenuePoet (Elizabeth)'s avatar

The world is full of tingly moments, and poets (and songwriters) trying to write them down! So glad we're both here and paying attention, Jeni.

Sulima Malzin's avatar

What a beautiful reflection, Elizabeth. I will save this one as yet another reminder of gratitude too easily overlooked. Thank you.

26thAvenuePoet (Elizabeth)'s avatar

I'm glad it spoke to you, Sulima. Thank you for reading.

Petrina's avatar

The post-Christmas Christmas tree poem!! One of my faves!!

26thAvenuePoet (Elizabeth)'s avatar

Wouldn't be January without it, right? Hi, Petrina!

(Brand-new poem next week, a nice fierce one. 😉)