On thursday I went for a run

to the library and saw two trees with their branches extended towards one another as if hugging, or shaking hands. It was the only part of them that was touching. We humans touch when we meet, shake hands and smile even when we don't know each other. In the Spanish culture people kiss each others cheeks as a greeting, even upon meeting each other for the first time. I thought of those two trees, who have stood next to each other for years and years, like companions, old friends, but for so long had never even touched. So the following poem I wrote is about the friendship of these two trees. It is entitled "Hello, My Friend"

Hello, My Friend

I remember when we were young,
toddlers by human measure,
Green and naïve of
the storms and snow
that would come our way.
We stood side-by-side
One month becoming two, three,
until before we knew it
thirty years has passed us by.

You were always scared of the thunderstorms,
of the vicious lightening that struck
close to the core and shook
our branches till we were sore.
I wanted to hold you, to touch you
and let you know that it would be okay.
It will be okay.

I wanted to but couldn’t.
Sometimes when our leaves turned bright
fiery colors of gold and crimson,
the wind would blow a part of you my way,
and gently, just barely, I felt a whisper of you.
We spanned thirty feet apart,
but we were too young and the distance too long to reach,

until now.

Last night I said good night, slept, and this morning I woke, to find
To find,
that you and I, me and you,
we were touching. We are touching.
Hand on hand, branch on branch,
me embracing you.
It took thirty years to bridge thirty feet,
but finally, finally,
“Hello my friend, my dear old friend. It is as if I am meeting you for the first time.”