MOON TREES

 We will never be astronauts…don’t have the stomachs for it…

meaning we will never walk upon the moon…let alone explore it. 

But the other day on the campus of Haywood Community College

we were blessed to see…

to our mutual surprise and delight…

one young and one older Moon Tree.

As part of an experiment…something the Forest Service wanted to know

Astronauts in 1971 then again in 2022 carried seeds into outer space

then brought them back to Earth to see how they would grow.

The seeds were planted and once the seedling into trees unfurled

these Moon Trees were sent as gifts to countries all over the world. 

Lucky for us the two Moon trees we were fortunate to see…

that once had orbited the moon…landed on the campus of HCC.

We found them nestled in the forest…in a place we’d never been before….

one young Sweetgum tree…and an older Sycamore.

We walked up to each…and as gently as can be…

touched the bark of the Sycamore….and one leaf of the sweet gum tree

A moment that filled us with emotions…we’re still trying to unpack…

to be so close and touch these trees…that had been to the moon and back.

It’s true we will never be astronauts…but thanks to those trees that lazy afternoon…

hear on Earth…for a brief moment

The two of us…were definitely over the moon.