“To see things in the seed, that is genius.”
Lao Tzu (Chinese taoist Philosopher, founder of Taoism, wrote "Tao Te Ching" (also "The Book of the Way"). 600 BC-531 BC)
TIME: 6:52 PM
PLACE: Front porch
SUBJECT: Maple helicopter seed
The maple tree has been shedding its seeds and the helicopters have been twirling and floating through the air. I was examining one close up and thought that the veins in the wing predict the trees that the seed will eventually become.
Paper whirly-birds.
They look so much
like pairs of insects’ wings,
spi-
ral-
ing
down
to the ground,
helicopters landing
on springy tarmacs
to deposit
next year’s forest,
gently,
like precious cargo.
Sweet to think
that trees
once had wings
and flew.
Rainshine, Sonny, Samara (Maple Tree Seeds), http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/samara-maple-tree-seeds/
TIME: 7:04 PM
PLACE: The backyard
SUBJECT: Red Sunset Maple seed pods
Originally this maple was planted in our front yard. During a storm, several years ago, it's trunk was snapped about three feet off the ground. We dug it up and set it out for yard waste pick up. Then I noticed that a branch had begun to grow from the damaged trunk. Since I am a softy, even for plants I felt we just couldn't throw it away and replanted it in the backyard. Except for its wonky trunk it has flourished. This year both this maple and the maple that took its place in the front yard, are covered with more seed pods than I have ever seen before. I love watching them rotate to the ground.
