three hundred trees

“Come plant trees”.

Thirty people gathered on the hilltop

Children, yogis, travelers, scientists
Filled the gorse’s ears with multilingual banter.

Under the sun we crooned to
Lancewood kowhai manuka
And with silent song took down
The pine’s pirate flag of green.

The hill hums
With our prayers and
sharp blades.
Life given, life taken,
We carve space for a different world.

Three hundred trees is not much,
But Their seeds in our hearts and hands are numberless,
Brightening our smiles.
Their young breath has mingled with ours.
The inner worlds hear that symphony of union.

Just before planting I learnt
That a baby in the belly
And a dying star
Share the exact, same heartbeat.

Riding that one wave,
In the nest for new beginnings
We learned each others’ names, dreams,
Met the seasalted skin
And laughed into the night the delight of being alive.

I want to whisper to every tender heart
Walk the path
That begs for your shadow on its dust.
Your people wait for you there.

There are no shortcuts
On the winding road of
giving yourself over,
So set out now.

We wait for you in cheerful ambush
On the dark road.

We have work to do, love to make,
Legends to build.

#treeplanting #trees #planttrees #community #heritage #nativebush #regenerate