The Monkey Puzzle Tree

• November 20, 2013
• phaedra
• Poetry

The Araucaria Arucana family await
to greet their missing brother
who’ll join in sentry guarding the estate.

Norfolk Island Pine, yet of Chilean descent
Bunya-Bunya’s spiked, spiraling branches
fishbone silhouette.

Tracking nurseries across the country
exotic tree request
a Victorian garden’s trademark
Van Dusen and Kew Garden’s best.

A brown box, taped unloaded
tissue-wrapped, Express
anticipated sapling
long awaited friend.

The earth prepared for planting
for centuries to grace
a prominent location
a trinity now in place.

Phaedra A. Ledbetter, Psy.D, MFT, HTR