“You as a Forest”: A Poem for Tu BiShvat

Writing and reading poems about them is one way to honor trees on Tu BiShvat, their birthday.

January 25, 2023

Outdoor silhouette image of a girl standing alone in pine forest at twilight in spring season. She is standing by folded arms and looking at beautiful view of golden sunlight glowing through horizon and cluster of pine tree trunks. She is standing by her back at camera. One person, full length, horizontal composition with copy space.

(Photo: Gawrav Sinha/iStock)

“You as a Forest”

I listen to the shelter of you
The sweeping canopy cradling the day and night of me
The moon rising in your branches
The stars falling in the sweep of your hair
I see the feet of your forest
The fingers, the limbs
The concave and convex of you
The light that falls around the perimeter
I smell your maple
fern, ivy

The light serpentine
falling through the rings
of redwoods

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Deborah Leipziger

Deborah Leipziger is an author, poet and advisor on sustainability. Deborah's poetry collection, Story & Bone, was recently published by Lily Poetry Review Books. Her chapbook, “Flower Map,” was published by Finishing Line Press (2013). Four of her poems have been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Born in Brazil, Leipziger is the author of several books on human rights and sustainability. Her poems have been published in eight countries, including in Pangyrus, Salamander Magazine, Voices Israel Poetry, POESY, Wilderness House Literary Review, Ibbetson Street Press and Muddy River Poetry Review.