Ancient Tree in Winter

Ancient Tree in Winter, where did you come from?
Trapped,
cleft by rocks at river’s edge.
water eddies carve your shape.
Can you be dead?

Exquisite sculptures herald your existence,
ice forms your branches,
snow creeps fingers across the river
from your body,
disappearing with heat of days
leaving you bare and naked.

You bring beauty to all who
call you by your true names.

Every day the River,
You
Ice and Snow
are ever changing.
Grace of dance,
reflecting evening moon,
ice waterfalls frozen in time,
soon a stand for ducks
preening feathers.

No death here, no birth,
Just your continuation.

Where did you come from Ancient Tree?
Did you stand tall
in a soft Quebec valley,
host to birds, small animals,
insects and whispering breeze?
Were you alone on a high bluff
Shading thundering rapids
that pulled you to their embrace?
What felled you,
so that you now lie here
Trapped?

Cleft by rocks
exquisite beauty of my river walk.

Rideau River Rapids
Carleton University
Ottawa, March 2001