Fragmented Memories – Stefania Urist

Pull a tab and take a piece of the tree

A piece of paper

A piece of its body

A piece of its history

The end grain of its lifecycle.

The inner rings sprouted before the US declared its independence

The outer circle, a thin layer before the bark formed just last year

300 years to connect with other species and creatures.

She stood strong through wind, rain, snow, and drought

Allowing slow growth to form strength, resilience, and a community.

Pull a tab and take a piece of the tree

A piece of paper

A piece of its body

A piece of its history

The end grain of its lifecycle.

Progress, rapid growth, capitalism, development

Are destroying and dissecting trees like this

Felling forests that are imperative for all existence

Straightening the curves and

memories of its life into standardized dimensional lumber

Forcing nature to be capital.

Pull a tab and take a piece of the tree

A piece of paper

A piece of its body

A piece of its history

The end grain of its lifecycle.

The puzzle of nature, of this tree’s life is completed by you.

You are now connected to other people,

the lifecycle of an old growth tree, and a greater whole

A community of natural beings.