When Great Trees Fall
by Maya Angelou
***
When great trees fall,
rocks on distant hills shudder,
lions hunker down
in tall grasses,
and even elephants
lumber after safety.
In Remembrance
Sorrow
When great trees fall
in forests,
small things recoil into silence,
their senses
eroded beyond fear.
Fallen
Mighty
When great souls die,
the air around us becomes
light, rare, sterile.
We breathe, briefly.
Our eyes, briefly,
see with
a hurtful clarity.
Courage
Rising
Our memory, suddenly sharpened,
examines,
gnaws on kind words
unsaid,
promised walks
never taken.
Strength
Unity
Great souls die and
our reality, bound to
them, takes leave of us.
Our souls,
dependent upon their
nurture,
now shrink, wizened.
Our minds, formed
and informed by their
radiance,
fall away.
We are not so much maddened
as reduced to the unutterable ignorance
of dark, cold
caves.
Respect
Protect
And when great souls die,
after a period peace blooms,
slowly and always
irregularly. Spaces fill
with a kind of
soothing electric vibration.
Our senses, restored, never
to be the same, whisper to us.
They existed. They existed.
We can be. Be and be
better. For they existed.
Outreach
Community
In remembrance of those lost in senseless acts of violence.
Jane Lurie Photography 
Had to return to this one. It touched me deeply not long after you posted, but… computer software crashes kept me too busy (& frustrated) to comment back then.
I still have trouble finding the words and thoughts you gave us on this sad occasion…
Thanks, as always, Jane!
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Hi Gunta, Aren’t you sweet to let me know. I’m glad this spoke to you… it is hard to express the sadness and outrage for these events. Thank you for reading. Hope you are doing well and that your computer is back in action. 🙂
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This brought tears to my eyes. Beautiful illustrations to a heartbreaking poem.
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I’m glad this spoke to you, Ruth. Thank you. A small tribute in these sad times. 💔
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Just beautiful, thanks!
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Thanks so much, Fran.
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A brilliant post Jane. Amazing shots and so well put together with the poem.
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Thank you, Amanda. I’m glad this spoke to you. Sad times. 💔
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My favorite subject … beautifully captured and converted to B&W. And I love those redwoods!
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Thanks, Denise. We share a reverence for trees! 🌲
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What an amazing combination….your photos and Maya Angelou’s poetry. Just stunning, Jane and so powerful. Monochrome is perfect to evoke the strength, beauty, and fragility of these magnificent trees. Human life…is just as beautiful, strong, and fragile. A great photo essay….truly.
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Thanks so much, Patti, for your reflection on this. It’s cathartic to create when there’s such a feeling of helplessness and hopelessness when these tragedies occur. Time and time again. 💔
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What a marvellous and sacred marriage of words and images, Jane.
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Thank you, Mitch. I’m glad this tribute spoke to you. A small tribute to these tragic events.
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The poem and your photo collection are beautiful.
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Thanks so much, Belinda. 🙂💔
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Wunderfull… very poetic …. love it !
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Thanks very much, Retrofit. 🙂
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Moving poem and even more moving pictures, Jane. Your black-and-white work is breathtaking. 🙂
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Thanks so much, Frank. I’m pleased you like the images with Angelou’s powerful words. Much appreciated. 😊
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stunning!
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Thank you so much, Andy. 💜
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Just, wow. So beautiful.
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Thank you, Sylvia. I’m glad this post spoke to you. 💜
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Fine set, Jane! Trees are wonderful creatures. Thanks for showing!
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Thank you, Harrie. I love trees, too. 🌲
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So moving and so powerful Jane. Words and images for these troubled times. Thank you. 💕
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Thank you, Andrew. As you know with your activism through art, it is cathartic to create. Sad times. 💜
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A lovely study in black and white. It seems like a condemnation of senseless acts and words of violence would be a simple black and white question as well.
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Your response is perfect, Dave. How is any of this up for debate? Thank you for reading and letting me know your thoughts. 💜
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Powerful captions and fabulous images to go with them, Jane.
And of course the poem speaks volumes. Take the walk, keep the promises…
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I’m glad this spoke to you, Ellen. Thank you. Yes, take the walk, keep the promises…💜
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Beautiful words and images. Thank you for this, Jane.
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Thank you for reading, Tracy. Much appreciated. 💜
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Brilliant, Jane. There you go again, tackling a big question with the ease of someone who’s gained wisdom from her years on the planet. Although the poem can encompass people – or other beings, like trees – that lived anywhere on the planet, the progression of California trees makes a beautiful connection to the recent tragedies in your state. The first photograph, of that tree (Eucalyptus?) behind a rainy window may be my favorite. It achieves a perfect balance between sadness and hope. I love ‘Unity’ too and the sky behind that Joshua tree makes a really nice frame for that photo. It was a tough week for coastal Californians. This tribute is a healing response.
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Thank you, Lynn, for your thoughtful response. I find pairing images with powerful poetry like Maya Angelou’s, give them new meaning. I’m glad you felt some healing as we ponder how these tragic acts will ever end. 💜
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From the beauty of your photos to the amazing words of Maya Angelou ~ a perfect tribute to the beauty of life and the sadness when it is gone.
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Thank you, Randall. It is hard to fathom how and when these acts of violence will end. Maya Angelou’s words are powerful and true. Glad this spoke to you. 💜
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Beautiful and a very thoughtful presentation of your photos, captions and statements.
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Thanks so much, Tim. A small, cathartic way to respond to these tragic acts. 💜
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These are stunning images that perfectly complement the verse to give tribute to those lost. Thank you Jane.
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I’m pleased the images and poetry spoke to you, Brad. Thank you so much. 💜
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An awesome poem in thoughts and pictures. A heartfelt thank you for sharing.!
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Thanks, Sandy. Feels cathartic to create with Maya’s powerful words. 💔
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Great post Jane for many reasons in these times! Also really liked & enjoyed the B&W images!
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Thank you, Reed. Glad you like the pairing of my images with the poem. Sad times. 💔
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Stunning images to accompany a powerful message. There are far too many of those senseless acts 😢
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Thank you, Sarah. It feels hopeless here in the states. Hard to fathom when this insanity will stop. 💜
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🤗
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Your wonderful poems and MA’s powerful poem: amazing! 🙏
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Thanks so much, Ashley. Appreciate your visit and I’m glad this spoke to you. 💜
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fascinating semi silhouette in “Respect”!
✨🦋💭🐇🗝🌱🌅☀⚖☺🤍✨
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Thank you, Graham. Joshua Trees are magical and remind me of a Dr. Seuss character. 🙂
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Such a poignant post, Jane. The poem and your black and white images are beautiful. I just learned last night that Tyre Nichols was an aspiring photographer. Such a tragic waste of a young life.
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Thank you, Susan. Such senseless tragedies. Yes, I read about Tyre Nichols and his photography. All the dreams that have vanished. Appreciate your response to this. 💜
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You really brought Maya’s poem to a new dimension sign your photography! Wow
Well done
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I’m glad this spoke to you, Yvette. Thanks very much. Sad times. 💜
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🙏💛
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A powerful message done your way!
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Thank you very much, Frank. 💔
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What a beautiful combination of words and your images. And when great souls die,
after a period peace blooms,
slowly and always
irregularly. Spaces fill
with a kind of
soothing electric vibration.
Our senses, restored, never
to be the same, whisper to us.
They existed. They existed.
We can be. Be and be
better. For they existed.
This final stanza takes my breath away because I desperately want to believe the words Maya writes. I want to believe that peace will bloom and we will change…Listening to the evening news each night my hope erodes 😦
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Hi Mary, Maya’s words are so powerful and this poem takes my breath away, too. I’m glad you like the pairing with my images- it was cathartic to create. A small way to deal with the emotion of so much tragedy- it’s hard to be hopeful. Thank you for your thoughtful response- much appreciated. 💔
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LOve the shots Jane! You love that red and yellow filter as much as me!
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Thank you, Wayne. I guess I do! Glad you enjoyed the images. 🙂
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When I was playing with Infra-red film in the early seventies I used both of those filters all the time
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Lovely and beautiful words paired with stunning photos ❣️
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Thank you, Lisa. I’m glad you like the pairing. A pause for reflection. 💜
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Beautiful tribute, Jane. 🙏🏼 💜
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Thanks, Eliza. Sad times that call for reflection.💜
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What a lovely collection and the poem works perfect in there.
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Thank you, Tara. Maya’s poem is a powerful reflection. Glad you like the pairing with my photos. 🙂
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Very thoughtful post as one!
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👌🏻📷👍🏻. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
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Thank you, Francesc. 🤍🖤
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💐
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Profoundly beautiful photos and poem. Thank you. ❤️
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Thank you, Sunnyside. I am glad this post spoke to you. I appreciate your visit and I had a moment to look at your terrific art filled blog. Happily following now.
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My pleasure, Jane. I am happy for your visit – welcome! 🙂
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I wasn’t familiar with the poem, Jane, and you paired your beautiful photos with it flawlessly. So much senseless violence these days and in the most recent I was shocked to find the violence perpetrated by people my age! So sad!
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Thank you, Janet, for your thoughtful response. The poem is a powerful reflection on loss. I’m glad you feel my images paired well. Sad times, indeed.
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Very timely and touching. Thank you, Jane.
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Beautiful on every level Jane.
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Thank you so much, Cindy. 💙
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Beautiful post for many reasons
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Thank you, Paula. 💙
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Amazing to see what trees can stand for.
And the pictures are amazing!
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Thank you, Rabirius. They are mightily symbolic.
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