The old birch has lodged
Itself right between
The poplar and the willow
In its disposition
Towards life
Up and down to and fro
Maybe that's what makes
Its leaves tremble in the wind
Knowing how much there is
That can go wrong
And yet remaining open
To every possibility
In every wind
Its spinnaker
Billows out
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| Watercolor by M. Bridge |
The poplar and willow are an important concept or symbol in Tang poetry and Daoist cosmology. The pairing is significant (I believe) because the two trees represent the opposite forces of Yin and Yang at work in nature: the upwardly thrusting poplar tree being the embodiment of Yang energy and the yielding willow the embodiment of Yin.
While enjoying the late afternoon sun in our backyard up in Nova Scotia for the last week, I noticed this beautiful old birch tree growing on the edge of the meadow and I realized it had achieved a perfect compromise between the two extremes of the poplar and willow. Perhaps that's why the birch has always been one my favorite trees and I hope this poem serves as a proper tribute.
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