Wednesday, May 29, 2024

Parentage of beauty

Back in my office again for the first time in a spell, I reread Buddhist poet W. S. Merwin's enchanting Unchopping a Tree, appreciating anew the lovely illustrations of Liz Ward. The poem, which isn't perhaps really about trees at all, offers instructions on undoing the destruction of a felled tree, starting with refastening leaves which fell off, then slowy hoisting the trunk back into place. This is where the chips which the chainsaw sent flying are restored to their original places...