Song

SONG

stiff, green needles

vibrate in pitch

with the wind

song of the pine barrens

debrief and context:

This short poem/song is the result of a hike in Brookhaven State Park with Mark Harrington, my hiking companion. We stopped to rest and listen to the hum of wind in pitch pine needles in the forest canopy. I sent Mark a report of our walk. He responded by extracting the above. I revised it slightly.  Every species of pine tree have a different “song.” Pitch pine needles are stiff and vibrate in wind at a different frequency than white pines’ needles. White pine needles are softer and the listener can tell. Extrapolating this idea,  every place has it’s unique “song” . Attunement to sounds in nature comes with listening. “How I Go ToThe Woods, a poem by Mary Oliver “Ordinarily, I go to the woods alone.” Those who wear Earbuds and head phone sets in the woods will not hear the subtle “Song of the Pine Barrens”

Tom Stock March 28, ’16