Little Tree

Seth's birthday is coming right up. He's almost one-year-old! Today I was looking at pictures of little him.

It reminded me of the night he was born. Somewhere between my very close contractions and his heart rate dropping again, one of the doctors gave me a shot to slow down the contractions. They dimmed the lights and let me relax for about an hour. It was beautiful. I listened to the "Birth" playlist on the iPod. Sitting in the dark I thought of Seth and that I was about to meet him.

One of the songs was "Little Tree" by Eric Whitacre. The text is by e.e. cummings. I listened to it several times. I felt very much like it was me singing to baby Seth. He was the little tree. And he was about to come from the great forest into our home. And we would welcome him by celebrating. (Never mind the "my little sister and I.")

You can listen to it here. (I only listened to the first two measures. Sorry if the recording's not the best.) I love the text.

little tree

little tree
little silent Christmas tree
you are so little
you are more like a flower

who found you in the green forest
and were you very sorry to come away?
see i will comfort you
because you smell so sweetly

i will kiss your cool bark
and hug you safe and right
just as your mother would,
only don’t be afraid

look the spangles
that sleep all the year in a dark box
dreaming of being taken out and allowed to shine,
the balls the chains red and gold the fluffy threads,

put up your little arms
and i’ll give them all to you to hold
every finger shall have its ring
and there won’t be a single place dark or unhappy

then when you’re quite dressed
you’ll stand in the window for everyone to see
and how they’ll stare!
oh but you’ll be very proud

and my little sister and I will take hands
and looking up at our beautiful tree
we’ll dance and sing
“Noel Noel”

E.E. Cummings, 1894 – 1962