Bonsai-related poem

The following was written by a close friend who practised bonsai for several years.  He collected trees from the countryside in northern West Virginia, much of which had been strip- mined by coal companies over the years.    Please enjoy.     Tom

After trudging across the rugged terrain                               I make a choice, the one I want
Up and down the fertile land                                              To pot and call my very own
I reach a rather desolate plain                                           A trophy for the well-planned hunt
Decimated by greedy man                                                 That Mother Nature has groomed and grown

All of the humus was taken away                                       It doesn't meet all the rules and laws
Stripped bare to reach the hidden coal                               To be a perfect Bonsai tree
Reclaiming was left for others to pay                                  But I look inside at all the flaws
Once they reached their selfish goal                                   That the little wonder shares with me

But Nature's determined to heal the land                             Then I begin to violate
And once again grow stately trees                                     Like those who made this man-made dearth
Her first attempts are frutescent                                       I too proceed to excavate
Stretching to reach my towering knees                               Then take my booty from the earth

Then I humble myself on bended knee                                And as we leave this rugged land
To meet this flora on her own ground                                 Where she has grown her first few rings
I marvel at what I get to see                                            She rests securely in my hand
These miniature beauties that I have found                         Not knowing what the future brings

Clutching to this desolate farm                                          I hope to train my new found friend
Where Nature chose to seed a sprout                                As gently as a mother's hand
A tree no bigger than my arm                                           And grow as stately in the end
With others like her all about                                            As Mother Nature first had planned             -Donald Floyd Jr.

This is lovely!

Thank you, Todd....I will pass your response on to Don.     Tom

Nice, I like the poem too.

my sister has done a fair amount of both professional and volunteer work in coal strip mine restoration. She will really like the poem, I am going to pass along the link.

I read...reread....then went away from this post for a time.

The word violate is telling and gives me a sick feeling about the reasons to take newly seeded trees from an area stripped and now regrowing.

Does this bother anyone but me?  

Norma

Hello Norma and Hello Tom –

I hesitate to write this, however…

As you seem to be Norma – I am troubled by the sentiment of this poem. It seems to justify that the intentions of a bonsai collector can undo or somehow rectify the damage of a strip mine just by intention. There is a thought divide here: removing life from the earth is bad when its intent is industry whereas removing life from earth for art is good!

We that are involved with the bonsai art cannot and should not divorce ourselves from the fact that we are removing living beings from their natural habitats. I do not cast judgment either positive or negative; however it is a statement of fact. The poem seems to postulate that the scale of destruction matters. That may well be, in relative terms, but in absolute terms it does not! In my mother’s words “you go the same place for lying as you do for stealing!”

Tom – please take no offence, this is simply commentary on a poem by another that you posted, but the following statement of the poem “I hope to train my new found friend as gently as a mother's hand and grow as stately in the end as Mother Nature first had planned” is quite simply a profound misstatement. If grown as bonsai this tree will be far outside the bounds of what “Mother Nature first had planned.” That is not bad. Bonsai is not bad! But it is not what “Mother Nature first had planned” – otherwise we would not be having conversations about whether bonsai itself is or is not art.

I do not mind bonsai artists harvesting wild trees as blank canvases for their artistic endeavors as long as such harvesting is done lawfully. However I do take exception to the idea that harvesting trees is somehow part of “Nature’s Plan”.

Many pardons if I have offended you, but I cannot share the sentiment of this poem.

David Brunner

Norma, David,

that is the problem, collecting, even if paid for and legal [ as a permit ] will the tree survive? Should it be removed ?
What is a tree - lifeform - toy - as the reasoning goes - they can feel no pain ?
And x years from now, we find out that we were not listening or looking in the correct direction.

Years ago, a large section of land leading to Sangre Grande, burnt down, Mora forest, it was prohibited to enter the area and the zone regrew itself very rapidly. Yet squatters did quietly move in, and took advantage of the undergrowth, with secret paths to their houses.

The poem makes you think, and that is most excellent!!
How much does man impact on his environment, what will he leave behind. Will we eventually kill ourselves, will the next dominant species - Cats / Dogs ? , be any better?

This is why I try to teach others to work with seeds / cuttings and if the urge to collect comes about take from an area where trees/shrubs are not wanted -------- public drains, sides of the road and so on.
BUT the urge to show off, especially if one has no life achievements, becomes very strong as one ages.
[ remember the big cars and houses and ................]
Later.
Khaimraj

I certainly appreciate the opinions of all that have replied and I am sure Mr. Floyd will appreciate them as well.  I respect and understand the points made by Mr. Brunner and I take no offense whatsoever.  It is always good to hear others' point of view.

Best regards,
Tom