Tuesday June 6 2017  A SOUND YOU NEVER FORGET

The entire outside structure of our house is made of brick and our interior walls are extra thick making our house virtually soundproof from most outside noises unless we have a window open.  We do hear military planes, some thunder, as well as one other sound, that once you hear it, you never forget: the slow, deliberate, crackling sound of a huge tree breaking as it topples to the ground.

This afternoon I was standing in the kitchen with a headset covering my ears listening to a sermon as I prepared Brussels sprouts for the oven.  It was then when I heard a terrifying, unmistakable sound even though the kitchen windows were closed!  I froze in place and a few seconds later it was over.  I felt no jolt on the house but I was still in awe of hearing what I had just heard.  I knew it was close and I knew a big tree had its final curtain call.  In a quick dash I removed the headset, went from window to window to see if I could spy the tree that had fallen; but to no avail. 

I would not give up.  I knew that sound and I knew it meant trouble.  I headed outside.  And there in my neighbor’s yard stood their house, half covered by part of an old oak tree that had crashed down.  The limb that came down was small when compared to the entire tree, but quite large when compared with a normal sized tree.  The oak was an old growth tree and its branches are the girth and length of trees in most yards.  The trunk of the tree is monstrous.  The tree parts spread across the neighbor’s roof and rested on top of the chimney flue.  Its foliage was spread out in all directions.  A large portion of the weight was supported by a “Y” fashioned of two other branches still attached to the trunk of the tree.  It created a precarious condition, to say the least.  And it didn’t appear that its movement was finished.  The weight of the tree caused so much pressure on the roof that the neighbor and I could hear the stress and popping sounds of the walls doing their best to support the tremendous pressure.  The beauty and grandeur of the neighbor’s trees adds to the beauty of our surroundings.  Losing a tree such as this one is like losing a good friend.  And it appears they may lose the entire tree.  We’ve lost our own share of huge trees.  I grieved right alongside my neighbor today.  I’m glad I was home to be with her awhile.  And I am so thankful that no one was injured.

So, as you can imagine, my day did not quite go as planned.  I am behind on everything I scheduled to do this week and some things may not get done before we leave on our upcoming trip.  Before I leave I try to have the house in order for the couple who takes care of things while we are gone.  It will be a busy time because the temperature is going up and the gardens will need quite a bit of watering each day.  It is so nice to have a couple we love and trust that can “babysit” when we leave town.  It is nice knowing our house will not be silent.  I believe it is the surrounding woods that beckon.  It is like living in your own private retreat.  And best of all, besides peace of mind, our produce box delivered on Thursday will be safely tucked in our refrigerator when we arrive home two days later. 

THE FINAL CURTAIN

Kathleen Martens

June 6, 2017

www.visionsofpoetry.com

There is never silence in my head

There is always the ringing that I dread.

And compounded with tightly fit speakers

My ears would not hear sounds of sneakers.

But today one sound came through,

Distinctive and long and I immediately knew

That somewhere a tree would crash

As I stood stock still, no place to dash.

The splintering sounds of century’s wood

Where for 200 years it probably stood

Came crashing down paralyzing me with fear

Knowing that sound was all too near!

And then the silence birthed a timeless still

As I prayed that no one was killed.

No injuries happened in the house

Not even the dogs, not even a mouse.

And the neighbor’s tree now must go

And its beauty will no longer show.

A part of the past will be no more

Its final curtain, closing the door.

Thank You God that no one was injured when part of the oak tree fell.

Thank You God that I was home to comfort my neighbor.

Thank You so much for the beauty You have created in nature for our pleasure.

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU!

AND MAY YOU STAY SAFE!