Every tree has a friend

Each day I look out my window or go outside the field,
I feel excited about the beauty of creation
As I greet the early morning sunlight
I smile at the trees as they wave their arms in appreciation to God.

I love to listen to the birds chirping,
calling one another as the day starts,
I hear the sound of the wind caressing the trees
The glory of God renews every creature.

I see ants steadily ascend and move about trees
as they go in search of food or their business
I watch animals of different kinds and sizes
All approach trees for shade, food and security.

Every tree has friends like birds, animals, insects
Trees are generous givers
Trees have emotions and feeling. Sometimes feel pain and shade their leaves
Though they don't talk, they love to stay together.

Trees take life easy even as they grow,
When treated with care and attention,
they form bonds with their roots and embrace
Friends of trees celebrate and promote life.

Trees are treasures of nature
Some trees have learned to smile
Like a show, they wave to you, calling you over
You see them on the road as you drive across them.

The trees cry in silence or say nothing
When thirsty they cannot walk to find water
They just stand straight with their leaves covered with dust
Animals eat their leaves and even split their stems.

When the trees are maltreated by their friends
Even the birds and other animals cry like orphans in their way
In useless regret, the tears they endure flow inside them
as great silence fill the sky in sympathy.

With the amazement of a child, as I looked at every tree
I discovered something new and wonderful
No two trees are the same
Every tree is different in form, shape and size.

Every tree is beneficial to man
They bear edible fruits in due season
Some do not produce fruits
Trees provide shelter, prevent flood and beautify our homes.

Every tree has a trunk, each trunk has branches
Every branch is covered in leaves and sometimes flowers.
Trees depend on the sunlight for growth
Most trees are identified by their leaves and structure.

Just like every piece of furniture is a trace of tree
and every tree brings comfort
So is every human life a branch of God, the Creator
Let us learn the generosity of the tree.

Prisca Onyinye Nwokorie is a  Roman Catholic Nun. She belongs to the religious order of “Oblates of St. Benedict Joseph Labre” in Italy. She is a graduate of the University of Bari where she obtained her Bachelor's and Masters' degrees in “Information and Communication Technologies for the Production of Software” and “Computer Science” respectively. Currently, she is carrying out research work on “E-learning for Developing Countries”.