“Who leaves the pine tree,
Leaves his friend,
Unnerves his strength,
And invites his end.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ever since my earliest childhood days
My favorite tree has been the Jack Pine
Whether I’m hiking, camping, or fishing
Just being in their presence, I find divine
The Jack Pine is a magnificent North American resident
It stretches across Canada, and from Minnesota to Maine
It brightens up the landscapes, of my favorite fishing lakes
Without its presence, their shorelines would be drab and plain
There is nothing quite as heavenly, as the scent of fresh pine
As I camp out on an isolated northern lake, under the stars
I’ve been enjoying their company since my first camping trip
Just to stand and gaze at their heavenly sight, I often travel far
And all sorts of forest animals also live among these majestic trees
Including the Kirtland’s Warbler, one of our most endangered birds
This tiny songbird has graced me with its melodies on many a morning
A world without this bird, or these pines, would be horrendously absurd
The moose, the black bear, the osprey and the bald eagle, all revere these pine trees
Like me, they also delight in the wondrous wild blueberries, that thrive in these pines
And like me, who has loved these trees all of my life, their lives are now getting sadder
Because of climate change and our insatiable logging practices, Jack Pines are in decline
Ever since my earliest childhood days,
My favorite tree has been the Jack Pine;
Whether I was hiking, camping, or fishing,
Just being in their presence, I found divine.
I thank God that I made their acquaintance,
Since one future day, very few will remain;
Our world is changing so horridly fast now,
And I believe our losses, outweigh any gains.
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©Spring 2011, Mr. Ed
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