I am 237 years old today,
the oldest tree in this forest.
I am a living measurement of time,
a history book in its most natural form.
Wizened by decades of observation
witness to catastrophes and wonders
you will never know
but there is one tradgety I will tell you.
One of every twelve trees in Vermont are ash trees like me
and their wails in the wind warn of imminent death
in the form of an emerald beetle.
Their larvae grow under our bark, feed on our flesh
blocking our transportation of water and nutrients
until our skin becomes brittle and splits
our crowns of foliage fall
and we die of thirst and starvation.
These invasive aliens won't stop until they've killed each and every one of us.
You may be thinking
Its just trees, why should we care?
Our lives are more intwined than you realize.
We take your exhales and turn them into inhales.
the oldest tree in this forest.
I am a living measurement of time,
a history book in its most natural form.
Wizened by decades of observation
witness to catastrophes and wonders
you will never know
but there is one tradgety I will tell you.
One of every twelve trees in Vermont are ash trees like me
and their wails in the wind warn of imminent death
in the form of an emerald beetle.
Their larvae grow under our bark, feed on our flesh
blocking our transportation of water and nutrients
until our skin becomes brittle and splits
our crowns of foliage fall
and we die of thirst and starvation.
These invasive aliens won't stop until they've killed each and every one of us.
You may be thinking
Its just trees, why should we care?
Our lives are more intwined than you realize.
We take your exhales and turn them into inhales.
