By Sandra Rippetoe © 2021
Dedicated to trees and forests – May they be allowed to grow

Thanks for being so green . . .
   a feast for our eyes.
Thanks for being so tall . . .
   you reach for the skies.

Thanks for being so old . . .
   you make elderly beautiful.
Thanks for growing us food . . .
   peach, plum, pear, and apple.

Thanks for housing birds and squirrels . . .
   for they disperse seeds.
Thanks for being a butterfly host plant . . .
   along with wildflowers and weeds.

Thanks for reminding us to grow . . .
   just a little each year.
Thanks for showing us how to branch out . . .
   and overcome our fear.

But thanks, most of all, for giving us air . . .
   the most important thing you do.
Because of you we have oxygen to breathe . . .
  How could we make it if we didn’t have you?!