What Olson noted is that each tree has
its own sound   its own voice   which may vary
with the seasons   and whether there is wind
or not    and depending on its direction
and strength  
               What an acute ear it requires
to identify each species   Perhaps
the birds have it    or certain birds   perhaps
All those years ago   the tamarinds in
Liberia and the afternoon breeze
that lifted the bone dry dust from their leaves
and at night the black sky   peppered with a
billion stars or more    tiny pinpricks of
light     empty universe longing for life
the warm intimacy
                              of human love

John Lyons