ThE BLACKTHORN

by Geri Andrews

​People in Europe have had a close relationship with the Blackthorn tree (Prunus Spinosa) for thousands of years, and more than any other early spring flowering tree, it is embedded in stories of folklore. Its blossom, though brief, heralds the start of Spring – and what an impact it makes. It is stunningly beautiful

The Blackthorn

Here in these northern climes,
The first warm rays of sunshine,
Set in motion a bursting forth of life
Awakened from its Winter slumber.

The Blackthorn tree is one of the first to flower;
The suddenness of this spectacle signals the change.
Its dense, thicket-like habit tumbles with showers of snowy-white petals,
Contrasting against the dark purply-black of its branches;
Unique in that its leaves unfurl only after the blossom has dropped,
While surrounding trees are still dressed in their brown winter tones.

Step closer…..the gentle hum of bees feeding on sweet nectar,
The perfume of its oh so subtle, lingering fragrance.
Butterflies shimmer nearby, warming their wings.
A little songbird trills out his territorial melody,
Safe within its thorny embrace.

The first sensation of sunshine on skin that has, for months, been bundled up
under coats and scarves,
Is irresistibly pleasant.
Winter has retreated once more.
In city parks, bodies sprawl on cool, damp grass,
Angled like solar panels to absorb life-giving rays.
The café is empty,
People choosing to sit kerbside with their coffee
To feel the warmth of the sun after so long.
Car windows get turned down, music gets turned up.
A new Spring begins again.

The Blackthorn, with its cascade of joyous blossom announces this arrival.
Often called the Mother of the Woods,
For where it goes other trees may follow,
In Autumn, when the first frosts descend, its fruit, the sloe,
Can be gathered to make wintery preserves.
And once its leaves have dropped back to the ground,
Its gnarled and knotty wood can be fashioned into the shalaylee,
The best walking-stick around.

It’s a peaceful feeling just to sit and be with a tree,
Its nature and my nature go together, so beautifully.
Its nature and my nature are one and the same,
As we exchange each breath, over and over again.