Si J'etais un Arbre-an old poem of mine

My legs are buried,
I am stagnant.
My feet and toes soiled.
I feel the grains of soft, brown, moist substance over my skin.
Sometimes small shiny creatures tickle my feet.
They carry many legs and their eyes are of black obsidian.

My skin appears quite dry, but it's merely just a shell.
A piece of armor to protect me from the elements.
From the howling wind and the battering rain.
It's my woolen sweater, my rubber slicker.

My arms are always outstretched.
They do not tire, for they praise the warmth of the sun.
And they reach out to the clouds for their precious rain.
They embrace the small furry long-tailed and the blue-winged.

Out of my fingertips sprout fresh, green and feathery foliage.
And in my hands I hold verdant buds which hide treasure inside.
The treasure in early spring is untouched by the air.
As the months pass, they bloom into streams of color.

In autumn i begin to tire and prepare for rest.
In winter I sleep, although it may seem I am dead.
Then spring will arrive and I thrive and bloom.
In summer I enjoy the sun and the peaceful moon.

An uncommon tree in the forest

About 5 months ago, for five months, I lived in Ireland. I went to school at the University College Cork, and to say the least it was one of the most liberating and wonderful experiences I've had. It's funny, because my decision to study there was a bit impulsive. I hadn't really had any special desire to go to Ireland in particular. I wasn't Irish, I didn't know much about the culture, and I think I was just looking for a quick escape from the life I was living at the moment. But I filled out the paperwork, got accepted to the school, and soon enough I was on the plane to Cork.

Almost every day, on my walk into the city, I would pass this gorgeous park right by the river Lee. It had a lovely pond in the center, colorful gardens, a playground, and plenty of places to sit and ponder. One part that I found particularly fascinating was this giant tree covered in tiny square-cut mirror pieces. It was interesting how it was randomly placed in the park, with no explanation. I'm sure it was just a piece of local artwork or something..but to see something so whimsical and out of the ordinary was lovely:

If you'd like to see some of the pictures I took from my adventures in Ireland, you should check out: http://itsallsmilesintheemeraldisle.shutterfly.com/1145