Poem: Avalanche

A thousand pines are sprawled
like broken toys,
snapped like toothpicks
by the crushing mass of snow
that pounded down
the steep mountain.
They tell me it was over
in minutes, a forest
that took a century to grow
gone in a roar,
an enormous thunder of snow.


by Kristine O'Connell George

Poem: Street Tree

All day long, I stand
here on the street,
neatly clipped
a round-headed shape,

minding my manners.
I know my proper place.
I don't spill leaves,
never dribble sap.

So meek and polite,
no one knows that
when all the cars go home--
when I'm standing here, alone--

I dream wild.
I am forest.


*by Kristine O'Connell George

Poem: Trees Place

Tree has staked it's claim,
anchoring itself firmly to Earth.
Tree owns this place in the universe.
Within this space, all belongs to Tree--
turf, shaft of air, even slices of sun.
Tree will not step aside for anyone.
Tree stands its ground.
When you
meet Tree,
you must
go around.


*by Kristine O'Connell George

Poem: Maple Shoot in the Pumpkin Patch

Remember me?
I helicoptered past
your kitchen window last fall,
then hovered over the pumpkin patch.

I had traveled far on the wind that day,
spinning the whole entire way.
I really hadn't planned to stay,

only wanted to look around,
lay my dizziness down,
rest a moment on the ground.

No wind came to carry me aloft,
the dirt was sweet and soft--
I guess
I must
have
dozed
off....


*by Kristine O'Connell George


----
Idea: great o have the kids draw a picture to go along with this story (or act it out while reading)

Poem: Beaver Dam

Do you see the gnawed trees
             piled up like trash?
Did you see
             a quick brown flash?
Did you hear
             a splash?

Must be that architectural team
with another scheme
to redesign the stream.


*by Kristine O'Connell George