Trees IV

On Being Human (C S Lewis)

Angelic minds, they say, by simple intelligence 
Behold the Forms of nature.
 They discern 
Unerringly the Archtypes, all the verities 
Which mortals lack or indirectly learn.
 
Transparent in primordial truth, unvarying, 
Pure Earthness and right Stonehood from their clear, 
High eminence are seen; unveiled, the seminal 
Huge Principles appear.


The Tree-ness of the tree they know-the meaning of 
Arboreal life, how from earth's salty lap 
The solar beam uplifts it; all the holiness 
Enacted by leaves' fall and rising sap;

But never an angel knows the knife-edged severance 
Of sun from shadow where the trees begin, 
The blessed cool at every pore caressing us 
-An angel has no skin.