Born Free

For Ron Freeborn.

In 1969,
we were bored.
The teacher said,
‘let’s go outside’.
We filed in line until we stood beneath an Ash.
At last he spoke again.
‘Trees reach, as if erupting from the inner core of earth,
drawn to stars. Do you see?
Now draw the shapes you see,

un-know the form.
The wood is not the tree.’