PEGI EYERS
ONE
follow the river's edge
careful - rushing waters
discovery
sacred grove of cedar
past thickets and vines
saplings mark the way
dead end
how to find the circle?
tangled boundaries
forest floor is glowing
crawling in - I find the center
of wonder
looking up
etched branches reach skyward
sacred dome, a pause
there it is
the silence of the world
05/14/2019
follow the river's edge
careful - rushing waters
discovery
sacred grove of cedar
past thickets and vines
saplings mark the way
dead end
how to find the circle?
tangled boundaries
forest floor is glowing
crawling in - I find the center
of wonder
looking up
etched branches reach skyward
sacred dome, a pause
there it is
the silence of the world
05/14/2019
"Sacred Cedars" painting © Cedar Lee
TWO
deadfall and wild grapevine
pushing down,
young trees pinned,
life force constricted
with saw and snips
I remove the bonds
limbs and buds fly free
saplings spring back,
face skyward
human in service to tree,
all beings have a place in the forest
05/10/2019
deadfall and wild grapevine
pushing down,
young trees pinned,
life force constricted
with saw and snips
I remove the bonds
limbs and buds fly free
saplings spring back,
face skyward
human in service to tree,
all beings have a place in the forest
05/10/2019
Photo Art © Ghanshyam Savani
THREE
the path I take
winds left and right
down the hill
through the thicket
out of sight
across the glade
bathed in moonlight
stark shadows appear
serrated, razor-sharp
the treeline is summoning
no fear
there are few dangers in the forest
into the comforting darkness
I fall
05/18/2019
the path I take
winds left and right
down the hill
through the thicket
out of sight
across the glade
bathed in moonlight
stark shadows appear
serrated, razor-sharp
the treeline is summoning
no fear
there are few dangers in the forest
into the comforting darkness
I fall
05/18/2019
photography by Robert Hood
FOUR
Beloved Ironwood
I pass by
morning, noon and night
branches a breathtaking symmetry
rolling farmland
beauty calls out
Her perfect presence stops time
fibonacci sequence
so close to home
a snapshot in the moment
extra water in times of drought
all trees are flawless
but this companion
especially so ~
She whispers to me
reciprocity, devotion
like a hand flung up
to touch the heavens
05/13/2019
Beloved Ironwood
I pass by
morning, noon and night
branches a breathtaking symmetry
rolling farmland
beauty calls out
Her perfect presence stops time
fibonacci sequence
so close to home
a snapshot in the moment
extra water in times of drought
all trees are flawless
but this companion
especially so ~
She whispers to me
reciprocity, devotion
like a hand flung up
to touch the heavens
05/13/2019
FIVE
water flows and ripples
dense shade above
cool stream below
tall and slim - foundation species
iconic Eastern Hemlock
influencing the Circle of All Life
deeply furrowed trunk
reddish hues
holding snowmelt into spring
surrounded by younger siblings
beauty resides
deep in Burnham Woods
Great Mother Tree
a seedling in 1600
She spans centuries,
a monumental being
Her motherline -
now faded to rich loam
generations of hope
cycling through time
05/15/2019
water flows and ripples
dense shade above
cool stream below
tall and slim - foundation species
iconic Eastern Hemlock
influencing the Circle of All Life
deeply furrowed trunk
reddish hues
holding snowmelt into spring
surrounded by younger siblings
beauty resides
deep in Burnham Woods
Great Mother Tree
a seedling in 1600
She spans centuries,
a monumental being
Her motherline -
now faded to rich loam
generations of hope
cycling through time
05/15/2019
Eastern Hemlock - Ontario’s Forest Cathedrals
SIX
shiny and new
tiny pine seedlings
in the tray
warm and well-lit
the tree-planter's gift
firm but gentle
a soft touch
easy landing on Mother Earth
set out to thrive
essence of loam
rows in the sun
wind and rain just right
from seedling to giant
you rise to the sky
05/09/2019
shiny and new
tiny pine seedlings
in the tray
warm and well-lit
the tree-planter's gift
firm but gentle
a soft touch
easy landing on Mother Earth
set out to thrive
essence of loam
rows in the sun
wind and rain just right
from seedling to giant
you rise to the sky
05/09/2019
SEVEN
wind and rain
wind and rain
wind and rain
it's gone on for weeks
I've lost count
your leaves are frayed
your bark is bruised
branches hit the ground
wind and rain
wind and rain
it's gone on for weeks
please stop
it's hard to breathe
stand tall, my rooted kin
weaving blessings in the forest
05/09/2019
wind and rain
wind and rain
wind and rain
it's gone on for weeks
I've lost count
your leaves are frayed
your bark is bruised
branches hit the ground
wind and rain
wind and rain
it's gone on for weeks
please stop
it's hard to breathe
stand tall, my rooted kin
weaving blessings in the forest
05/09/2019
© Keith Dotson Photography
intelligent trees
sentient beings
are fighting to survive
06/13/2019
sentient beings
are fighting to survive
06/13/2019
Pegi Eyers is the author of Ancient Spirit Rising: Reclaiming Your Roots & Restoring Earth Community, an award-winning book that explores strategies
for social justice, ethnocultural identity, the ancestral arts, building land-
emergent community and resilience in times of massive change.
for social justice, ethnocultural identity, the ancestral arts, building land-
emergent community and resilience in times of massive change.
