Tree Note
Shades: old souls in our midst
by Miykaaiyl

​Re-PLACE-ing Philadelphia is building an expanded archive of cultural memory that includes multiple histories, re-place-ing the established with new narratives and understandings. Notes from artists and community members consider place via the street, sound, food, trees, and other portals. 

A tree note from Miykaaiyl—a poetic point from a shade by the gate or juncture of the roads.
 

trees watch generations come and go

satisfied to be fixtures of one unique place dropping extending seed

preparing for somewhere long into the distant coming form of The Present when rot will uproot

silent observers swaying on a swirl of wind

heard and seen dancing but never uttering a word or need to say

each quiescent motion a motive for telling a tall tale and branching out a shade

apparitions dancing on fixation for the provision of offering a cure

our elders longer lived as relative to a stay in a singularity of unique mortal vessel

unmoved by our passing fancies ‘till we ignore their value and bulldoze them and breath away