Trees and Kids

I suppose it still true today. When I was kid climbing trees was a weekly pasttime. We all did it and in many ways it was a rite of passage. If you could leap to that first limb and then loop your legs over and then make your way to the top you were part of the group.

A number of years ago my granddaugters climbed the the tree our front of our house and I took some pictures and poem was the result. 

They are older now and far more sophisticated where trees are nice to look at and to enjoy their shade, but climbing that's for boys. I understand.

Tree People

© 2009 Rolland G. Smith

I found some people in a tree

But then I knew that they were me.

They are my son’s twin daughter’s planned

And I the one with children grand.

I think that trees like kids to climb

And poets then to find the rhyme

To tell the story of assent

Into the tree when knees are bent.

Once up upon the limbs of bark

Lets me below make this remark,

“Be careful kids you’re high enough

Go no higher for then it’s rough

For elder me and you so young

To get you out of high branch rung.”

My worry was forever naught

And my concern thus overwrought.

The kids so nimble as they are

Did swing to ground that was not far.

And I as “Pop” did look away

As the kids went off to play.

I’m thinking of a saw I know

To cut the limb that’s way below.

And if they ask, “why did you cut?”

“Your Grannie's threat to kick my butt.”