I am teaching my children
the names of trees
white pine
hemlock
maple
the shape of leaves
the feel of bark
beech
hickory
oak
how roots hold firm how seeds set forth and travel
the way birds live in their branches
the way their branches live in my heart
tamarack
balsam
birch
I am teaching my children
the rising of sap
the bursting of green
the touching of sky
jack pine
cedar
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
I am teaching my children
to grow after I’m gone
poplar
chestnut
ash
I am teaching my children
to teach their children
the names of trees
Rae Crossman
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”