Have you ever experienced the  feeling of peace and inner calm when sitting amongst a grove of ancient trees and nature? This was written while contemplating an extremely old tree surrounded by ivy and grasses in the garden that is Filoli. The poem takes its name from one of the ivy varieties. The tree has since been pulled down, but you can still enjoy it in this poem. 

Variegata

The clicking of cicadas

Birdsong calls and answers

The rustle of squirrels scampering

Crisp daisies peeking through slender grass

 

A compact bird comes to visit

Perched to near invisibility

In its network of branches

 

Tree trunk's texture reminiscent of an elephant's limb

Rough and gray,

Magnificent, old, powerful,

Decidedly serious

 

Swallows swoop and glide in this morning's air

Catching their breakfast