Birch

I call the birch the poppy tree
Disturb ground and it arrives
its like a new beginning
And from such thoughts survives
As The phantom of the forest
Its soulful silvery gaze
Under a moon of yellow
Its countenance does raise

A ladder to the stars for some
The maypole at Beltaine
Carved runes in Scandinavia
Bark scraping not in vain
Will catch a spark And light a fire
And feel the cockels set
The first letter of oghams
Transformed and clearly met

It has a female quality
A gentleness abroad
And magic from its papery skin
A message will afford
Use charcoal as an instrument
A keep safe your reward
Often several wispy poles
Leap together to the sky
Like dancing maidens full of spirit
The fly agaric sigh
Often seen around the birch
A peasant tree thats why

Its month begins on 24th
Of December
Through to the 20 of January
Of the following year
Just above the winter solstice
A healing that feels clear
It offers purification
And like a pheasant does endear

Along with the elder
It decks its boughs
With leaves its twigs remain
Supple less than hardened
A willow refrain
Goddess trees these ladies
Catch the wind and dance and sway
In early march
A cut
A tap and sup the
Healing spray

A birch stick when one leads a cow
Fertile she will be
Calm of spirit warm of heart
And joyful beside thee
A forest full of birches
Promise bird song all the way
Good for making besoms
And where faeiries love to play

In the autumn birch leaves
Sing with colour
An enchanting hue
Thin leaved deciduous hardwoods
That love sunlight
Shade wont do
The bark is often eaten
By deer and rabbits they
Get nutrition from it
And Moose too so they say

Their roots are very shallow
Its important therefore to
Realise they will destroy a drive
And ofcourse that will not do
Birch bark soaked in water
Makes a cast for broken bones
Its wood is good for fence posts
Bed frames and veneers
Also very good for doors
A Close grained and satiny texture
Good For Polished floors