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M. N. Tarrint's avatar

Green sunlight we grow

Reaching above, so below,

our roots holding soil

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Chris J. Franklin's avatar

It's incredible how tall some of them grow, for sure. It's also incredible how much those particularly tall ones are able to bend without breaking, when it starts to get windy. Sometimes, they almost look like they're taking a bow! Haha... 🏯😎🏯

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M. N. Tarrint's avatar

Your comment reminds of the trees in my back yard on a hill in South Carolina that would bow as a huge wind gust blew over. It was kind of scary.

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Chris J. Franklin's avatar

It can definitely be scary, for sure. Especially if your car is parked near one of them! Nooooo! 🏯😎🏯

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Carole Roseland's avatar

Little apple tree

Loaded down with tasty fruit

Branches touch the ground

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Chris J. Franklin's avatar

Fresh fruit, straight from the tree, is a wonderful thing! It's so much better than anything you can buy in the stores... 🏯😎🏯

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Carole Roseland's avatar

Yes, the apples are little and only a few bites, but they are very tasty!

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Richbee's avatar

Twin trees type cast loves

Split apart a rock crevice

To twine in the park.

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Chris J. Franklin's avatar

That's a lovely image of two trees entwining, and growing together. You often see them with their branches touching, which I suppose is their version of holding hands! Haha... 🏯😎🏯

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Richbee's avatar

Yes natural progression.

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A.C. Cargill, All-Human Author's avatar

Please leaf me alone

And root for my daily life

Bark is worse than bite

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Chris J. Franklin's avatar

Haha! Some excellent wordplay there! In fact, it's tree-mendous! 🏯😎🏯

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A.C. Cargill, All-Human Author's avatar

I crawled out on a limb for that one.

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Kaci Rigney's avatar

Nice!

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Jeannine Lawall's avatar

Ouch! I like this one! 😎

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Jeannine Lawall's avatar

Huge ancient oak tree

From acorn planted by squirrel

Centuries ago

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Chris J. Franklin's avatar

Ahh, yes! That's such a fun quirk of squirrels. They collect so many acorns and seeds to hoard for later, that they forget where they've buried them, and many become new trees and plants. They're basically Nature's Gardeners! Haha... 🏯😎🏯

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M. N. Tarrint's avatar

Reminds me of being really little and picking up acorns in the yard.

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Patty's avatar

Yea squirrels!

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Jeannine Lawall's avatar

Good thing they have such bad memories! 🐿

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Patty's avatar

An old oak thrives here

Some say I should cut it down

Love living landscape

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Chris J. Franklin's avatar

So many trees are being cut down these days, especially in towns and cities, to make room for new buildings and things. It's such a shame. They add so much beauty, and they help purify the air, too! 🏯😎🏯

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A.C. Cargill, All-Human Author's avatar

The good thing about trees: you can always grow more.

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Chris J. Franklin's avatar

🏯😎👍🏯

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Patty's avatar

Agree. I had someone ask me again last week when I was going to cut this old tree down. Why should I? It is beautiful and home for so many dwellers. Some people just don't like trees or leaves (free compost for me!) If you want an eye-opener read "The Living Landscape" by Rick Darke and Doug Tallamy. It opened my eyes to how different trees will attract certain insects. Specific birds feed on certain insects to survive. It is my most favorite horticultural book on the importance of biodiversity.

Thanks for another great topic this week! AC too! :)

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Chris J. Franklin's avatar

You're very welcome! That's so true! Local wildlife does suffer, too, when trees are gone, because they provide a vital habitat for them. I have quite a few trees here, and I love seeing the squirrels and the birds they attract. Thanks for the book recommendation, too... 🏯😎🏯

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Patty's avatar

Love your sweet haiku too.

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Chris J. Franklin's avatar

Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it... 🏯😎🏯

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Theresa Greene's avatar

Mighty oaks amaze

When their day of death arrives

They fall just like us

Thank you , Chris !

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Chris J. Franklin's avatar

You're very welcome! I had a lovely Plum Tree for quite a few years, that used to have some beautifully sweet and delicious plums on it. But as it got older, it stopped producing them, and then one day, it just fell over, exactly like you described... 🏯😎🏯

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Theresa Greene's avatar

Thank you , Jeannine!!

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Theresa Greene's avatar

Thank you , Kaci !

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Theresa Greene's avatar

Thank you , Patty!

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Theresa Greene's avatar

Thank you, M.N

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Minaz Ansari's avatar

Provider of shade

Harbinger of life on earth

Every single tree

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Chris J. Franklin's avatar

It's wonderful to sit beneath the shade of a tree, and watch the world go by. Especially during the summer months. Thanks for joining in... 🏯😎🏯

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Minaz Ansari's avatar

I agree. Thanks for adding me here :)

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Chris J. Franklin's avatar

You're very welcome! 🏯😎👍🏯

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Carole Roseland's avatar

Towering maple

Hungry roots crush sump pump drain

Nasty flood ensues

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Chris J. Franklin's avatar

Ahh yes, the roots can cause issues, for sure, when they start getting too out of control. It's amazing how far they can reach sometimes, too... 🏯😎🏯

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Carole Roseland's avatar

Yep, I'll be digging up my back yard very soon.

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M. N. Tarrint's avatar

lol! That's pretty visual

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Frederick Fullerton's avatar

A tree provides shade

For all and refuge for birds

Beware of lightning

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Chris J. Franklin's avatar

Ahh, what an excellent callback to one of the earlier Prompts! It's like a two for one! Haha! And that's so true, as well. You definitely don't want to be anywhere near a tree when there's lightning strikes going on... 🏯😎🏯

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Frederick Fullerton's avatar

Thank you, Chris, for your feedback. Yes, the last line of haiku was a callback to lightning.

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Dylan Delgado's avatar

Cradled by branches -

left and right - I make friends with

the resident squirrel

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Chris J. Franklin's avatar

I get quite a lot of squirrels here, and always enjoy their visits. It's fun to put food out for them, and to see them sitting there gripping it with their little paws while they eat it... 🏯😎🏯

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Gloria Horton-Young's avatar

Beneath dead branches

a boy carves his name in bark—

no one calls him home.

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Chris J. Franklin's avatar

Great to see you back! This is a wonderfully thought-provoking piece, that opens the door to many possibilities. Very nicely done... 🏯😎🏯

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Gloria Horton-Young's avatar

Thank you!

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Chris J. Franklin's avatar

🏯😎👍🏯

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The Black Knight's avatar

The tree has fallen

Our decades lie on the ground

This is not the end

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Chris J. Franklin's avatar

Ahh, the downfall of a Family Tree! It's like an epic saga, told in three lines. Thanks for joining in... 🏯😎🏯

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Carl R Williams's avatar

I planted a seed

It grew to be a big tree

Birds now eat its fruit

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Chris J. Franklin's avatar

Lovely! It never ceases to be fascinating how tiny seeds can grow into such beautiful and enormous plants and trees... 🏯😎🏯

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Sofia Silva's avatar

Roots clench ancient soil,

Unshaken by fiercest storms,

Reaching for the sun.

Thank you for the challenge!

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Chris J. Franklin's avatar

You're very welcome! Yes, it's remarkable how strong some trees are, and how much they've been able to endure to remain standing throughout the years. Thanks for joining in... 🏯😎🏯

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Kaci Rigney's avatar

two teens in a tree

K I S S I N G

that's sappy business

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Chris J. Franklin's avatar

That's a very fun and innovative use of the seven syllables in the middle! Haha... 🏯😎🏯

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Kaci Rigney's avatar

Thanks! It was fun!

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Chris J. Franklin's avatar

🏯😎👍🏯

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