The Woman Who Planted Trees

I can tell my age By the height of trees By the years they've stood Growing over me When I was a girl You planted seeds And cast your love Forever over me When the land was dry No food to eat When the soil was sick And the river weak You took a spade Bare hands, bare feet And sowed your love Roots down deep In the cool, dark shade Leaves sing your name Wild green tongues glisten in the glade Your branches warp, my fingers weft Weave me through this gift you left From a prison cell You dreamt of trees Blood dried black Upon your cheek You didn't know Around the world People listened People learned Water returned Soil healed Hope restored with every yield Trees grew high Bones grew strong Enough for everyone In the cool, dark shade Leaves sing your name Wild green tongues glisten in the glade Your branches warp, my fingers weft Weave me through this gift you left I can tell my age By the height of trees By the years they've stood Growing over me --- The Woman Who Planted Trees - Emily Barker