Born of the same stars

Scrolling through my photos from yesterday, 

I was struck by the similarity between these two. 

On the left, faces of Polynesian ancestors; 

On the right, detail from the trunk of a large tree.

 I find I ache for both, and am lost in memories 

Of a time we made the decision 

To fell a large oak that was threatening our house.

 It was the first time we’d cut down a live tree, 

And I remembering being shocked 

 To hear it scream… 

When will more humans realize 

 That we and the trees are born of the same stars, 

Each scarred by the traumatic events 

And losses that befall us?