I sat in the shade of an Oak
Wide and tall
from there observing a sea
Of differentiated greens
And browns
And bright where the sun reflected

I had studied before arriving
how to discern the shapes of leaves
And textures of bark
I had learned to know one tree from any other
by the differences

I thought I would know every tree from myself
No thought or want or muscular feeling
Would give me
Roots

What tree
would be
for me

The wind
blew

whispering all and nothing