Sunday, January 31, 2010

Surfaces: The Old Tree

I met an old man at dawn in the woods. He held a coffee cup and rested against a tree.


As I stopped, I saw his coffee had ice crystals laced across the top and there was a tattoo of a dragon etched on his arm.


He told me the raven that lives on the hill by my place brought him the shiny yellow mug. His hair was very white


and his nose was getting long.


Chickadees hopped across his shoulder. He smiled fondly at them. His eyes were so familiar. I asked him if we had met before.


He said, “Remember that snowy owl flying towards you in your headlights that night in the blizzard at Sylvan Lake? That was me.”


I remembered him then and smiled. He had been so beautiful when he was young.

19 comments:

The Giraffe Head Tree said...

Oh, I love this. Love this. Love this.

Victoria said...

Gorgeous post..in words...feeling and images..and "inner imagery"! An enchanting beautiful tale..and touching story!
Kiki~

Ellie Mae's Cottage said...

Wonderful poem! You are so creative seeing all of those things in the bark of the tree!

miss m said...

Nature is filled with imagery and you have a gift to put it in words. Lovely post ! Fabulous images ! (I dig the old man's tattoo :) )

sweetbay said...

He's still beautiful, just different. :)

Rebecca @ In The Garden said...

Beautiful, incredible post. I'm in awe.

Moonstone Gardens said...

I often talk to the old men (and women) in trees, but I was so envious that your's talked back. May you always hear their voices.
Cindee

Anna said...

Simply beautiful - may the imagination within you always shine!

Northern Beauty Seeker said...

Thanks all for your kind and encouraging words! I think storytime in the evenings with my little son is reawakening my imagination - that, and dreaming of my garden :)

Laurrie (My Weeds Are Very Sorry) said...

Your tree made me pause in a busy day and wonder what's being said outside in my woods. Beautiful, evocative photography! I love the old man's crinkled bark face with snow for hair. A very beautiful and soothing post.

Ruthie Redden said...

keep up with the story telling, you have a wonderful imagination x x beautifulx i lov e this

Northern Beauty Seeker said...

Laurrie: Thank you for stopping by! You are lucky to have woods close by. I am addicted to mine :)

ruthie: Hi! You are too kind. I'm glad you enjoyed it, tho' :)

Esther Montgomery said...

I'm not usually a fan of whimsical posts but I like this. I'm going away feeling a bit wafty.

Esther

Northern Beauty Seeker said...

Esther: Hi, and welcome! Thank you - we all need to feel a little 'wafty' some times. It's a great way to start the week :-)

Clayton said...

Great story. When does the book come out?

Northern Beauty Seeker said...

Clayton: Hi! After having seen the movie, 'Men Who Stare at Goats', should I call this, 'Girl Who Stares at Trees'? :-) Thank you!

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Ms. S ! That was such a lovely post with beautifully detailed pictures and imagery : )
I wanted the story to go on !
Joy
Did he have a cookie with his coffee ? LOL

Northern Beauty Seeker said...

Joy, you always make me smile. His cookie was an ice-cream sandwich! lol

Tatiana said...

I'm with Esther, not typically moved by sentiment, but that was too beautiful not to appreciate.

Thanks!