Trees I Have Loved, Part 3

And as they watched, upon the mound there came forth two slender shoots; and silence was over all the world in that hour, nor was there any other sound save the chanting of Yavanna. Under her song the saplings grew and became fair and tall, and came to flower; and thus there awoke in the world the Two Trees of Valinor...The one had leaves of dark green that beneath were as shining silver, and from each of his countless flowers a dew of silver light was ever falling, and the earth beneath was dappled with the shadows of his fluttering leaves. The other bore leaves of a young green like the new-opened beech; their edges were of glittering gold. Flowers swung upon her branches in clusters of yellow flame, formed each to a glowing horn that spilled a golden rain upon the ground; and from the blossom of that tree there came forth warmth and a great light. Telperion the one was called in Valinor, and Silpion and Ninquelote, and many other names; but Laurelin the other was, and Malinalda, and Culurien, and many names in song beside. ~Quenta Silmarillion, Of the Beginning of Days, J.R.R. Tolkien

Trees I Have Loved, Part 2

There is a touchstone tree in the corner yard at the top of my block. This tree - I think it's an ash tree - embodies to me the very essence of tree-ness. It is quite large, filling but not crowding the space it inhabits. It is of substantial, well-proportioned girth, emanating solidity and strength. It is pleasingly but not too perfectly symmetrical. Its limbs stretch to every perimeter of the yard, at such a height as to be sheltering and shading but not smothering.

The house at the corner has stood empty at various times during my sojourn here - it stands empty now. But the tree is untroubled in its solitude, a friendly sentinel, waiting watchful and welcoming.