Dear Grandmother Redwood A found Poem
The date this plea for help was written was December 7th 2008 (the year Phoebe left us).
Eight years later in 2016, hiking, I stopped at this redwood for no apparent reason. It’s burnt out trunk, a scar from a fire long before anyone lived in these parts. A large healthy redwood. I dropped to my knees to look inside. Moving a few leaves around I found a piece of paper buried. I read it. Brought tears to my eyes. I gently refolded the green paper and placed it back inside the tree trunk under the brown madrone leaves.
The poem, or prayer or plea for help, has lingered with me ever since. Today, 4 years later, 12 years after it was written, I walked back to the tree. I wasn’t sure where it was, but I knew it was near the trail. I knew the dark ashen scar looked like a kind of womb. 4 years ago I found the small folded up piece of green paper and looked up and there was a dream catcher.
The Grandmother Redwood was easy to find. No dream catcher this time, just pine needles and brown flat madrone leaves. I kneeled in the duff and dug out old leaves. Some old white rotting paper bits, a cut out brown paper heart with a few touches of glitter left, I gently moved aside. Moving more leaves, to my surprise, shock, I found the green paper again.
How does something and temporal as a small piece of pulpy paper survive outside in the crook of an ancient redwood, exposed to all the elements and little critters last for 12 years?
I said my own prayer before reading it out loud. Asking permission of the tree and the sweet spirit who wrote it. A prayer for all the people of all ages, of all ethnic identities, all philosophies all religion or place on this planet who can not find their ground to stand on. For all those who can’t do it alone anymore and asking for guidance. I share it here.
The tree stands after that fire. The poem has not deteriorated. Perhaps it is a truth. The paper, like her heart, there are things that offer protection and shelter. Many more people these days, are asking this same question.
What ever we do, where ever we go, always leave some room, some patience and kindness, some love for those around us who silently suffer. That one small validation, no conciliatory words, just that much to receive a person with you heart. Grandmother Redwood answered a prayer and here we are to share it. It’s a real thing.
12/7/08 I’m out of my mind! I feel lost from my Spirit, Our Great Creator and from Reality. I have no ground to stand on, no focus and little drive. Please, if you have any power to help me, as a human will you offer me guidance, courage to continue and a vision of what my path is? Please help, for I can’t do it alone anymore! Ok, thank you
