Poetry

Tree of Greatness – Arts Consortium of Carver County (ACCC) Gallery

/ Tunnel Vision 8


Tree of Greatness
By Gina Gafford
Member’s Show
Photo and Poem
Sponsored by the Literary Committee of the Arts Consortium of Carver County
ACCC Gallery at the Chaska Community Center (artsofcarvercounty.org)
November 11, 2024 – January 10, 2025

I took the photo of this ancient, impressive tree when I was in Ireland in September 2024. The beautiful tree is around 600 years old and resides at Blarney Castle & Gardens in Cork. The tree is called the “Witch’s Yew Tree.” The witch is a typical figure of fantastic legends in Ireland. In 2019, the Witch’s Yew Tree was voted Ireland’s Tree of the Year!

I decided to name the poem “Tree of Greatness” because I could see how the yew tree connected with the energies of the cosmos combined with what I thought defined greatness.

Tree of Greatness
By Gina Gafford

I was born
from a seed of hope

the sun within my leaves said
grow to greatness
and be a channel of
love

the stars within my many branches said
reach out with discovery

the ancestors within my trunk said
reach deep with introspection

the milky way within my roots said
make respectful connections

the moon within my sap said
dream of heaven on earth

nothing born will die


Chaska Community Center ACCC Gallery (11×14 photo)

Chaska Community Center ACCC Gallery

Chaska Community Center ACCC Gallery

The Treads of My Being (Poem)

/ Tunnel Vision 8

“Frequency” By Leo Fortune (leofortuneart.com)

The Treads of My Being
By Gina M. Gafford
Magical, Mystical and Just Plain Cool
Ekphratic Reading (writing something inspired by one of the art pieces)
Sponsored by the Literary Committee of the Arts Consortium of Carver County (ACCC)
Sower Gallery (Shepherd of the Hill Presbyterian Church, Chaska, Minnesota)
October 13, 2024, 12:00-2:00 p.m.

The Threads of My Being
Where are the threads of my being?

I feel winter coolness.
My stiff limbs reach out with sharp edges of imperfection.

Am I in tune?

I feel barren and naked.
Alone and scared.

Slowly, I hear the distant drumbeat of spring.
The threads of my being flow with the colors of the rainbow.
The hidden pulse echoes around me.

I come back to my center.
The summer of my heart. 
I connect with the roots of my ancestors.
I feel the vibrations of wisdom and acceptance.

I must embrace change.
And heal my wounds.
Transformation from the inside out.

I burst with colors – yellow, orange, red, purple, and brown.
The musty earth begs for my offering.
I let go – once again.
Another chance to fall back into love.