R.I.P. Trees

When I was eight years old my parents had a story teller come to my birthday party and regale us with the story of The Lorax, via environmentalism. A good time was had by all, and the cake was an ice cream cake, which is perfect for December.

Flash forward twenty years, and much to my dismay trees at SMCM are being TORN DOWN.

Look at this gorgeous beauty. The Tree of Life, so majestic and powerful via age, destroyed with the BLADE OF MAN.

Yes that wonderful tree at the entrance to the Garden of remembrance is no more.

And look, another tree near the White House/Lucille Clifton House.

But why are these trees gettin' chopped up, like so many carrots in the Great Room?

Possible Theories...

• Captain Planet style anti-environment villain
• Pruning
• Disease
• Gentrification
• The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and Sauron/Dr. Jordan needs trees for their respective war machines

Who knows!@1@11!!!!

Would be cool 2 buy some of the tree. Maybe a slice of tree, via slices of pizza???

Big ups 2 @Viet for taking these photos!!!

Blessing The Boats (at St. Marys)

may the tide
that is entering even now
the lip of our understanding
carry you out
beyond the face of fear
may you kiss
the wind then turn from it
certain that it will
love your back may you
open your eyes to water
water waving forever
and may you in your innocence
sail through this to that

-Lucille Clifton

Lucille Clifton

Saw on Jeremy Pevner's facebook status that she may have died. Looking at google news, she cancelled a Feb. 22nd appearance, so it's possible I suppose.

If this is true then it's really depressing. She was the Poet Laureate for our state for awhile, and has been a distinguished professor here for like two decades.

Her poem, The Blessing of the Boats, is on the wall outside the Great Room. She was a really nice old lady, and I got to see her speak here in 2008, and it was really really wonderful.

UPDATE: Larry Vote confirmed it. :[