28 Comments
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Shondra Bowie's avatar

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

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26thAvenuePoet (Elizabeth)'s avatar

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

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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."

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26thAvenuePoet (Elizabeth)'s avatar

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

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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

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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....

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Weston Parker's avatar

So true.

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Francesca's avatar

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

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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.

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Francesca's avatar

🌲 💚

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Kavitha's avatar

Breathtaking! 🩷

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26thAvenuePoet (Elizabeth)'s avatar

Thanks so much for reading, Kavitha! 💛🌿

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Barbara Webb's avatar

I understand goats like to munch on them.

Auntie B

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26thAvenuePoet (Elizabeth)'s avatar

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

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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.

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26thAvenuePoet (Elizabeth)'s avatar

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

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Kim Nelson's avatar

That turn at the end is luscious!

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26thAvenuePoet (Elizabeth)'s avatar

Thanks for noticing that, Kim! 💛🌿

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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.

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26thAvenuePoet (Elizabeth)'s avatar

Oh, lovely! Glad to hear it, Ron.

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Margaret Ann Silver's avatar

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

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26thAvenuePoet (Elizabeth)'s avatar

Thank you, Margaret Ann. 💛🌿

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Jeni Hankins's avatar

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

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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.

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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.

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26thAvenuePoet (Elizabeth)'s avatar

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

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Petrina's avatar

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

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26thAvenuePoet (Elizabeth)'s avatar

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

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

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