Tree Reflection

I begin this assignment by viewing the short film about trees. Although it was not overtly intimate, I felt as though I was peeking into an environment that was sacred, untouchable. The various perspectives concerning nature offered a well rounded look into how individuals view their surroundings. I particularly enjoyed the portion of the video that discussed tree skiing. It it eerily quiet as the snow muffles the regular noises of a forest. Despite losing a skiing partner in the midst of fresh powder, their voices trail far enough to alert the others of their whereabouts. That feeling of intimacy I referred to earlier demonstrates just how connected human beings and nature can be. As the past Winter poems illustrated, Mother Nature can be presented as a living essence. In the video, as people described their own relations to the forest and trees, it became clear to me that these individuals see the environment as a holistic entity, one that cares for them as much as they care for it. Yet, once I begin reading the poem that was accompanied by the video, my thinking shifted. I knew the words I was reading did not make sense, and it seemed as though the piece was intentionally incoherent. And it was. I found the term flarf. Flarf refers to poems that are playful and sometimes meaningless besides the intent to create something that is playful. For me, the poem did not incite feelings of intimateness like the video. Instead, it left me confused and questioning whether or not the author actually enjoys writing about nature. But, upon reading the last included article about trees and belonging, I suppose one's feelings about trees depends on the importance you seek in them.