Harmony in Blue and Green— At Principle Gallery
What did the tree learn from the earth
to be able to talk with the sky?
–Pablo Neruda, The Book of Questions
Since we’re asking questions:
Does the tree know it is a tree when it talks to the sky?
Does the sky see any difference between the tree and you or me?
When animals– other than us– talk with the sky, do they speak with words? For that matter, do we speak to the sky with words?
When the sky and the tree talk, do they discuss ponderous subjects like eternity and the meaning of life or do they just chit-chat about things like the weather?
Do the tree and the sky ever sing together, rather than talk?
I don’t know the answer to any of these questions, of course. I would like to think that the tree and sky do harmonize in song together. That actually seems plausible.
Is the sound of leaves rustling in the breeze part of the chorus of their song?
That brings me to this week’s Sunday Morning Music. I have picked Sky Full of Song from Florence + The Machine. Seems to fit.
Before I go, another question: Why doesn’t the sky return my calls?
Does it have a problem with me? Did it say anything to you? Does it think I’m asking too many questions?
Redtree Times 
Love these questions!
Also funny timing for quoting Pablo Neruda because in response to your post yesterday, I thought of (but didn’t get around to) sharing another quote by him that someone else had called out recently:
“You can cut all the flowers but you cannot keep spring from coming.”
Hi, Kai! Neruda had an uncanny and interesting way of putting things. If you get a chance take a look at his “The Book of Questions” on Internet Archive.
Will do – thanks for the suggestion, Gary!
Interesting article today. For me, best of all is your addition of one of my favourite poets’ words. (Neruda’s Your Laughter) is one from my top ten faves.). And you paired with a lovely song from Florence and the Machine …. who have select pieces I like but as an artist are not in my top 10. So now the question of talking to the sky. Are we talking to it … to the general ether above our heads or in some way looking heavenward to some greater power, an ancestor or two or just the great unknown. For me I do wonder sometimes where is it going and what it has seen, but then wonder if I’m really talking to the wind or to myself. Anyway, I’ve enjoyed this post.
Glad you enjoyed! You have posed some interesting questions here yourself. Maybe in the end we are talking with ourselves. I read an article recently where someone engaged in therapy session with a ChatBot that would basically listen then ask follow-up questions, much like a human therapist. At the end of the session the writer came to the conclusion that he was talking to himself but, in doing so, felt somewhat better. He was able to identify things that had been troubling him but that had gone unnoticed before. This is not an endorsement of AI but maybe there are answers to be found in talking with ourselves– or the sky.
I love these questions. I think the trees maybe don’t know because they are just named by human. And I believe they have their own names and languages. Honestly, I don’t like some names of them, such as, the Luanshu its Chinese name. I see a tree out of my window everyday, but I don’t remember its name instantly. So I googled it and I don’t like its Chinese name Luanshu. But I love it’s English name Golden Rain Tree. That’s so beautiful. I do think it sings everyday because I hear the leaves rustling and birds chirping when I play guitar and sing a song. In my eyes , she is a beautiful girl with golden flowers and green eyes. I don’t know what she say to the sky. But I know she’s definitely happy when they talk and sing together everyday. I see her dancing in the wind and smiling in the sunlight.
Thank you so much for that lovely description. Maybe the trees sing rather than talk with the sky? That would be good, too.
That sounds romantic. I love trees singing with sky. Thank you, too.🌷