Late afternoon sunlight blinks
like my gold molar when I laugh.
It jokes among the honeysuckle leaves
that hug the cherry tree.
They are mapped with age spots and veins,
frustrated at their fading.
On the third shelf up,
surrounded by fiction books and poetry,
the photograph of my mother as a little girl
stares from a frame made of mother-of-pearl,
her eyes directed towards a waste bin
overflowing with words printed on old skin
with the life blood of countless trees –
words discarded by me.
Kim M. Russell, 15th September 2020
A poem for earthweal weekly challenge: Considering the non-human world
writing in north norfolk 
Even the trees have life and perhaps we cast away the remnants too easily. At least in this age of technology we surely use less paper!
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Yes, that’s one good thing about modern technology, we use less paper.
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I love late afternoon sunlight, that turns the world golden. Wonderful to have honeysuckle and a cherry tree in your yard, a wealth of beauty and scent. I like the segue to the photo of your mother, and the connection of words and paper to trees. Lovely.
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Thank you, Sherry. It’s amazing how much inspiration I get from outside and inside my study.
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What a great poem Kim!
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Thank you, Kim!
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Quite a transition — we are welcomed into the canopy only to be reminded how we are culpable for its vanishing. I wish e-books had more substance.
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Me too, Brendan.
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I’ve been thinking about waste paper too lately. I tend to waste a lot – maybe I should make papier mache. Your poem has really got me thinkIng… in a good way
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The best response!
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atmospheric ~
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Thanks!
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enjoyed this poem very much I’m glad i came across your blog!
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Very thoughtful poem. It reminds me of so many things from my childhood. The spiritual connections we shared with our mothers. That long afternoon walks with her and how she taught me different names of plants and trees in her born language. Thank you so sharing such an outstanding poem that have so many hidden meanings.
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Thank you for reading and commenting, and for sharing something so personal.
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