Trees Hide Secrets and a Daring Little Girl

Summary

Kathryn LeRoy reflects on the profound connection between trees and the human spirit, drawing inspiration from personal experiences and poetry.

Abstract

The article on the website delves into the enchanting relationship between trees and a child's imagination, invoking Joyce Kilmer's famous poem "Trees" to emphasize their beauty and majesty. Kathryn LeRoy recounts her childhood fascination with trees, particularly a black willow near her home, and acknowledges the baobab trees of Madagascar as sacred entities believed to house ancestral spirits. Trees are celebrated not only for their aesthetic allure but also for their practical benefits, such as air purification and the medicinal properties of their bark. LeRoy shares a personal poem, "Hidden in the Tree," which captures the essence of a girl's secret world within a tree's embrace, and concludes with a quote from Munia Khan that underscores the symbiotic relationship between humans and trees. The article encourages readers to appreciate trees and invites them to connect with LeRoy through her contact page and newsletter for further inspiration.

Opinions

Trees are seen as more than just plants; they are majestic and hold a mystical aura that captivates the imagination, especially in children.
The baobab trees of Madagascar are considered sacred, with a cultural belief that they are home to the spirits of ancestors.
Trees offer tangible benefits to humanity, such as cleaning the air and providing natural remedies like salicin found in willow bark.
Kathryn LeRoy holds a personal affinity for a fig tree from her childhood, which fuels her belief in the power of trees to inspire and provide solace.
The article suggests that trees and humans share a symbiotic relationship, with trees providing life-sustaining air and humans showing appreciation and care for them.
LeRoy uses poetry to convey the spiritual connection one can feel with nature, particularly the secret, elevated world of a girl in a tree.
The author's message is one of reverence and reciprocity with nature, encouraging readers to recognize and honor the value of trees in our lives.

A poem of trees and the imagination of a child.

The Tree by Kathryn LeRoy

“I think that I will never see A poem lovely as a tree.”

Joyce Kilmer’s poem, “Trees,” expresses the beauty and majesty of trees. As a child, I held a fascination for trees and wanted to hide in them all day. I can’t explain the mystical aura that surrounds the branches reaching out to touch the sky.

The people of Madagascar consider the iconic baobab trees sacred. Some believe the spirits of their ancestors live in the forests.

Near the lake behind our home, we have a black willow that stretches wide. The limbs and leaves flow gently in the breeze and protect a wooden swing from the evening’s setting sun. We call it the conversation tree.

The bark of some varieties of willows contains salicin, a chemical similar to aspirin. In the time of Hippocrates, people chewed the bark to relieve pain. Trees provide more than beauty. They also clean the air by absorbing carbon dioxide. Natural filters, trees can absorb odors and pollutant gases.

Do you have a favorite tree? Mine was a huge fig tree in the backyard of my childhood home. I would climb into the arms of two large branches and spend hours imagining that I could stay hidden forever.

Hidden in the Tree

She sat in the tree miles above the ground or so it seemed to be.

Birds fly ‘round on high wondering who came and her giving a sigh.

You can’t see the girl looking down below as leaves fall in a swirl.

Her heart flies away gliding in the wind clutching the branch so tight.

Under the Trees by Kathryn LeRoy

“Trees exhale for us so that we can inhale them to stay alive. Can we ever forget that? Let us love trees with every breath we take until we perish.” ― Munia Khan

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Kathryn A. LeRoy — a relentless seeker of excellence, kindness, learning, and believer in the strength of the human spirit. My why — inspiring your potential to be and become your best.