Thinking like a redwood

Back against a 1000 year old being

I am barely a child.

It is both comforting

And depressing

That I will never be as wise as this redwood.

Sequoia sempervirens

Always alive

Always.

We are all immigrants

To this forest

Our roots barely scratching the surface

I imagine my feet sinking deep

Deeper deeper

Down

Is it confining

To have roots so deep?

Or liberating and exhilarating

To have the strength and support

To never stop growing

Up to the sky?

We are all immigrants

Barely children

Writing laws and drawing

Lines in the sand

But slight breeze blows

And we drift

Topple

Migrate

No roots holding legs into the ground

Leaving the redwoods behind as we found them

To know the climate cycles first hand

Stages of succession

Fog comings and goings

Bacteria conquerings and abandonings

To store this wealth

In rings

Constantly expanding rings

To be there always

Sempervirens

I cannot touch this! I will never grasp it! 

Respect, jealousy, longing. 

                                                          To think like a redwood.