I recently spent a
weekend in the Spanish city of Elche. I always knew Elche was famous for its
palm groves but I had not imagined the trees being such an integral and visible
part of the city landscape. Dating back to Moorish development of the city in
the 7th century when dates were an important food source for humans
and livestock, there are now estimated to be up to 200,000 date palms in 97
orchards, protected as a world heritage site. From the 14th century
the palm leaves have been used to weave Palm Sunday decorations, an industry
that still exists today.
This poem was inspired by one of the hundreds of amazing
trees I encountered in my visit to Elche, a beautiful city with a magical green
heart.
PALM HAND
Elx palm stands among
us,
tree growth so
unhurried we
barely see the
transformation,
fixated as we are on
the
passing of our own
youth.
Silently,
imperceptibly,
elephant feet
stabalise,
deep roots penetrate
dry earth,
sapwood utilising
every
precious drop of
Levante rain.
Spiked leaves reach
skywards,
chlorophyll stars in
blue firmament
transmuting sun’s
life force,
plant honey trickling
through
phloem, energy in
tree veins.
Heartwood
consolidates,
trunk clothed in
gnarled bark,
protecting, securing,
wood hand emerging,
curled fingers
cherish life’s seed.
© 2018 Jacqueline Claire Knight. All rights reserved.
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