I am teaching my children
the names of trees
white pine
basswood
cherry
the shape of leaves
the feel of bark
beech
hickory
balsam
how roots hold firm how seeds set forth and travel
hazel
sycamore
alder
the way birds live in their branches
the way their branches live in my heart
mulberry
sumac
mountain ash
I am teaching my children
the rising of sap
the bursting of green
the touching of sky
maple
tamarack
spruce
I am teaching my children
the falling to ground
the falling apart
willow
walnut
elm
the way seedlings root on nurse logs the way saplings reach for light
hemlock
cedar
fir
I am teaching my children
to grow after I’m gone
poplar
chestnut
oak
I am teaching my children
to teach their children
the names of trees
Rae Crossman
Forthcoming in spring 2022 from Caitlin Press in anthology Worth More Standing
Selected as one of the winning poems by Trees for Cities celebrating World Poetry Day 2021 and International Day of Forests 2021
Set as choral music for adult and children’s choir by Alfred Kunz with the title “Touching of Sky”