Naming

.

Hey Trees

I don’t know your names

I’ve been walking here for years

enjoying your shade

breathing in your exhalations

feeling the contours of your bark

loving the green

loving the green

but I don’t know your names

.

Hey trees

I used to know your names

but somewhere on the path

I let them go in favour of

drinking in your beauty

feasting on your exquisite forms

breathing in your exhalations

loving the green

loving the green

I used to know your names

.

Hey trees

I brought a friend with me today

we tried to recall your names

and think you might be hemlock

and you are definitely cedar

we quibbled over Oregon grape

and salal which I always confuse

we breathed in your exhalations

we loved the green

we loved the green

we tried to recall your names

.

Hey trees

will you teach me your names?

in the rustle of your leaves

the whisper of sap rising

the wind in your branches

the brush of needles as I pass

the runes engraved in bark

the kiss of your exhalations

the lovely green

the lovely green

will you teach me your names?

.

by Carys Owen