Deeply Rooted
poem by Glenis Redmond
illustrations by Alexander Rouse
You’ll never know how much you need
to be here until you are. Walk.
Round the bend, where the yellow Parsnips––
and pink flowers bloom. The meadow opens.
Glows at dusk. In this rare light
the Oaks stretch wide. Take you in.
Stand still. Behold. Be held. Exhale. Be.
We come to this land to behold––
to be held by Conestee’s green palm.
The giant Red and Water Oaks bid
us to circle ‘round and listen to
stories on top of stories that nature
tells. We become deeply rooted to the
past and to the beauty here now.
The first stewards still walk the land,
you can almost hear the Hendersons busy
with their doings. Put hand to ground,
and feel the drum and thrum––music
of the grist mill, but nature is louder:
the Running Water chants its holy hum.
Here we come to be filled. Healed.
There’s so many animals to spy, yet
the winged ones, I favor the most:
the gaggle of geese with their horns,
and the bright red suited cardinals, dotting
the trees. Too many birds to count.
Each day a new cast of colors
And a host of others join in.
Helene blew through, but we’re still here.
As in our lives, we take stock.
Tote heavy loads. Elders say, “Many hands
make light work.” Or, lighter. Not just
the light from the sun and moon
but from each other’s strength. We link
to these deep roots and we climb.
One to another is always the answer
nature forever the teacher, tells us to
take heed. Knows all in due season.
Green or gold. Mist. Fog, shine
or rain. When the field is fallow,
Do not let the eye mislead you.
Beneath us, life dances in the dark.
We rarely think of them. Roots. But
they’re there. Silent in their deep mission.
Anchors. Doing the work: pushing up what
needs to be held down: Trees. Plants.
Us. Some people root us too––
May we do the same for others.
Spur growth. Inspire each other to rise.
These poems are linked Kwansabas for the Conestee Preserve. A Kwansaba is an African American tribute poem form consisting of seven lines with seven words in each line. No word exceeds seven letters unless it is a proper noun.
"Deeply Rooted" reflects the spirit of Kwansaba, honoring Conestee’s beauty and resilience through themes of grounding, growth, and connection.
