This summer it has rained every day here in South Louisiana. The effects of climate change are here, warmer air, warmer oceans, more water vapor=more rain. We are waterlogged. However, the plants seem to love it. The trees are greener than ever, covered in resurrection fern that only turns green when it is wet. I’ve managed a daily walk between downpours. I took this picture yesterday of the bark on one of our oak trees.
There’s imagery here, metaphor maybe? Find your own way into a small poem and leave it in the comments. Be sure to respond to other writers with encouraging words.
This old tree frosted
Margaret Simon, haiku draft
white with lichen brightens
a trail to fairy heaven
Reflections on the Teche 
“a trail to fairy heaven” is such an interesting image! I never heard of resurrection fern and had to look it up to understand its meaning – maybe there will be a poem about that sometime. For now, here’s one about the oak:
like icicles,
lichen drip into the oak’s bark—
a playground for bugs
Here’s a link to a 2016 post of mine about resurrection fern. I write about it a lot. https://reflectionsontheteche.com/2016/08/06/celebrating-resurrection-fern/
Love “playground for bugs.” When I looked up lichen to see if it was harmful to the tree, I read that it is not harmful and is a good place for bugs. It’s also used as nesting material. Nature is fascinating.
I never knew anything about resurrection fern. What a fascinating species. I love the poem you wrote about the live oak living up to its name and proving life for the fern. Beautiful post over there!
(Oops, I now see that that particular poem was Diane Mayr’s)
Yes, I too like “playground for bugs”
It made me study the picture again, Rose, and imagine. That is a good thing for poetry to do.
oh, I love the word lichen. It’s always been a favorite of mine…the living thing that looks so dead and old and storied.
From above
God looked over
fingerprints
upon a patch of earth.
The dry plateaus
river valleys
green that grew–
and felt that the
gardenwas untended
unkempt enough
that specific orders
of angels were required.
Tree angels first…
Tree angels…ah!
Oh, I love the idea of tree angels tending the garden. Magical poem.
Margaret,
I love lichen too, like Linda. I would like to see this tree in real life. I love your “trail to fairy heaven.” Lovely. I was inspired by your poem, but mine is kind of opposite!
Haunting the old oak
Lean lichen ghosts stranded there
What sin holds them fast?
lichen ghosts haunting…hmm!