A tree’s story
By Barry Vitcov
More than once, Bow Seltzer has told me the story of when a lightning strike split an old cottonwood in North Mountain Park. Bow walks the park almost every morning, paying attention to the flora and fauna of one of Ashland’s treasures. I don’t know if his poem “Tree Rings” is about that old cottonwood but, if it is, what a story it has to tell!
Tree Rings
by Bow Seltzer
It’s easy to assume, I’ve seen many, many things
Just look at my trunk, made of so many rings
I’m old I know, but I’m still here
When I look far and wide, my future is clear
Someday my huge trunk will break free from the ground
And all that I was, will be spread all around
It’s true I haven’t moved, in more than 200 years
So finally lying down, will come with some fears
Now memories of old, are fading fast
But I do remember the landscape, it seemed open and vast
There once was a time, long long ago
When a family of native people camped just below
There were campfires, drumming and chores upon chore
But their impact was small, on the forest floor
When the natives moved on, everything changed
As the landscape was, constantly, re-rearranged
Farms, fences, lumber mills and such
For a middle-aged tree, it was almost too much
Sometimes I’ve felt sad to be rooted and confined
But I’ve had my share of visitors…visitors of all kind
Deer have rubbed their antlers, tickling my bark
Cougars have climbed high, when it was creepy and dark
Bear have scratched their backs, against my rough trunk
And a few moments later, it’s that cute baby skunk
Birds, of all kind, have made nests on my limbs
Yes, feeling like a chapel while they sang their sweet hymns
Even when those young boys pounded nails in my side
I knew it would be a treehouse, so they could play and could hide
All in all it’s been strange, but yes it’s been good
As life goes on, in the neighborhood
Bow Seltzer and his wife Ann moved to Ashland in 1978, and 6 months later they were off to
South Korea as Peace Corps Volunteers. They lived and worked at an orphanage for Amerasian
children during their 2 year service. Then they returned to Ashland to start their own family. Bow
starting working at OSF while pursuing a dream of creating gross motor skill products for young
developing children. The big payday never happened. In the mid 1990s Bow did realize a dream
by being credited as the visionary and coordinator for the creation of Ashland Seasonal Ice
Rink. Bow lives across the street from North Mountain Park where the tree that inspired this
poem is located. He refers to the park as his happy place.
Poetry Submissions Welcomed!
You are invited to submit original work to the Poetry Corner. There is only one restriction: Poems ought to show a connection to Ashland and/or Southern Oregon. Your interpretation of that connection is fairly loose and mine is probably even looser! Be sure to include the title of your poem, your name as you would like it to appear, the city or town in which you reside, and, if you wish, your preferred pronouns. Finally, please submit a bio statement of less than 150 words written in the third-person.
To submit poems, send to Barry Vitcov at haikubjv@gmail.com.
