Sequoian Soliloquy: a #Prosery #AmericanSentence #haibun

What life do you imagine you have lived?

I pierced the soil and first touched the sun when your ancestors laid the foundations of their castles in your “old country.” I basked in the sun for hundreds of your years before the conquistadors first saw me. Fire, drought, pestilence I endured; I even bear the blackened scars of lightning strikes. For more than a thousand years I have stood.

But is that an accomplishment you value? Or am I a mere commodity? Did your recent ancestors not fell hundres of my kin? Do you not see ever more profitable uses for me, and for the land I occupy?

And what treasure will you have left when you have felled the last of my kind? What life will you possess after you have plundered the final forest?

These memories were left here with the trees.

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17 responses to “Sequoian Soliloquy: a #Prosery #AmericanSentence #haibun”

  1. merrildsmith Avatar

    What memories those trees must have!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Frank J. Tassone Avatar

      Indeed, Merril! The Sequoias of the Sierras are the oldest and largest organisms on the planet. How breathtaking to consider the memories they hold! Thank you! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Liked by 1 person

  2. msjadeli Avatar

    When they go, we go, but how many of us understand it?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Frank J. Tassone Avatar

      Far too many–once it’s too late! Thanks for reading! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Liked by 1 person

      1. msjadeli Avatar

        You are welcome, Frank.

        Liked by 1 person

  3. kim881 Avatar

    Nicely written from the perspective of a tree, Frank!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Frank J. Tassone Avatar

      Thank you, Kim! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Liked by 1 person

  4. memadtwo Avatar

    They talk, we don’t listen…(K)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Frank J. Tassone Avatar

      No, we don’t–to our shame! Thanks, K! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Liked by 1 person

  5. Bjรถrn Rudberg (brudberg) Avatar

    I wonder if a piece of wood will bear the poet’s word in the end… the rest will be pulp

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Frank J. Tassone Avatar

      Touche! Thanks, Bjorn! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Like

  6. lifelessons Avatar

    I lived in a redwood grove for 15 years so i certainly feel the power of your message. They harvested redwoods on the acreage next to us, some of the trees sharing rings with our trees. Our trees were second-growth, less than one hundred years old, if I recall correctly, but they were magnificent. Thanks for this message.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Frank J. Tassone Avatar

      We visited Muir woods and saw the Pacific Redwoods there, too! They also have much to say, I’m sure. Thanks for reading! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Like

  7. Rob Kistner Avatar
    Rob Kistner

    Excellent writing Frank ! Good use of the prompt line. Enjoyed reading this, but makes me angry. Beautiful tree!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Frank J. Tassone Avatar

      Thanks, Rob! ๐Ÿ˜€ Our collective environmental crisis outraged me, too!

      Like

  8. purplepeninportland Avatar

    Treeโ€™s point of view really makes you sit up and think about all the lovely parts of nature we are ruining. Great poem, Frank!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Frank J. Tassone Avatar

      Thanks, Sara! I hope we wake up before the point of no return!

      Like

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Frank J. Tassone-American Haijin by Frank J. Tassone is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0