Forest Spirits

The love between a young girl and the man that raised her. The battle of addition, family, and finding comfort in nature.

Fingers frozen, socks soaked from snow I haven’t felt this warmth since the summer. My guardian, my hero, my father. I wished for you in past lives, and I still do now. Although we live miles apart, I can feel your warmth radiating through the trees of the pacific northwest. I thank you for my knowledge of those trees, the giants and protectors of our forests. I’d like to think I'm a religious person, but once you taught me about the resilience of the forest I knew they were their own creators. 

From that I learned I am my own creator, though I have the blood of another man in me I have your spirit which is the biggest gift the world has offered me. 

You were carried by the dreams of those who wanted to soar through the sky, the dreams of a pilot carried you through the denseness of the woods. I feel in my heart though you are still flying through the north. You are my living compass, “Always follow the milky way.” 

Manzanita, they grow through me. The sweet pollen savior of my summer, and there you are the ancient Redwood. I have so many questions. The rings you hold are gone, with lock and key. And I weep because the precious knowledge is hidden. Fires, human destruction, invasive species. You are eroding and I feel as if they have already buried you this winter.

I bury your leaves in my pockets begging you to come back, where is the resilience I’ve witnessed for so many years. 

I asked the climate why do you hate us so she answered with the fire surrounding us, "This is the way life goes."

My bark is still burned from the great California fires, not even this Oregon snow will soothe it. I treat it as though it is almost medicine but it is nothing but another element I fend from. My dear Redwood, hear my plea. How do I fight these elements, you have stood so great and tall all of these centuries but why does my bark rot?

I begged the fire, the pests, the pollution. But they only have gotten more hungry, persistent. Was it the constellations you looked for every night offering you a story to calm your aching roots. Did you see the wonder of other galaxies before the smog came? I am far too small, too young to learn what you ancients found in the sky. But I am outstretching my branches and will always search for you in the constellations you have shown me. 

Author's Note

Hi there! This is one of my first writings I don't really know how to categories it, or put it in a box. I wrote this when I was around seventeen it's been about two years and now I want to share it. Comments and suggestions are appreciated! Thank you.

Reviews

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This is so good Venus !! I’m 17 and I enjoy writing too :)