a tree points at me and says:

“I AM YOUR MASTER”

(she must be telling me the truth because trees don’t bullshit)

“IF I UNEARTHED AND SOARED TO THE MOON,

THE WATERS OF THE EARTH WOULD DROWN

YOUR MISERABLE SOUL”

(she really can’t be all that bad because she’s a giant sequoia , I thought)

“AND IF FURTHER PROVOKED,

I COULD ASK ALL OF THE SQUIRRELS AND THE OTHER LITTLE ONES

TO EVICT YOU FOREVER FROM YOUR HABITAT”

(my God what fantastic power!)

“YES, JUST BY MAKING MY BRANCHES INVISIBLE

I COULD SINK ALL YOUR OCEANLINERS AND

TOPPLE YOUR SPACESHIP DREAMS”

and as this ordeal lingered on, 

these words seared inside my chest:

REDWOODS TALK TO ME

STATE IT PLAIN-

THE HUMAN RACE

DON’T MEAN SHIT TO A TREE

11/15/69

Paterson