Connected

by Margery Parsons / May 10th, 2026

Recently I learned
something inspiring about trees
like the soaring, stalwart oaks
in woods nearby.
Trees are connected
through vast networks underground,
tapestries of roots and fungi,
the “wood wide web,”
a way to spread sustenance and defense
keeping our forests alive.
An older, “mother” tree
can give some sugar
to hungry seedling youngsters.
A tree swarmed by insects
can warn others to make tannins,
make leaves too bitter to eat.
Trees will share nutrients and water
with those more vulnerable to disease or drought.
Trees look out for and protect each other─
cooperate to survive and thrive.
For ninety five percent of human history
we too lived this way,
How can we tolerate
this outlier system we are under,
capitalism, individualism,
dog-eat-dog competition,
“look out for number one,”
so utterly, fatally moribund,
a dire existential threat
to our planet and humanity.
If trees can live in community
based on caring and sharing
generosity and wisdom
why
oh
why
can’t
we?

Margery Parsons is a poet and advocate for a radically different and better world. She lives in Chicago and in addition to poetry loves music and film. Her poems have been published in Rag Blog, Poetry Pacific, Calliope, New Verse News, OccuPoetry, Rise Up Review, Haiku Universe, Madness Muse Press and Illinois Poetry Society, with a forthcoming poem in Plate of Pandemic. Read other articles by Margery.

This article was posted on Sunday, May 10th, 2026 at 8:00am and is filed under Poetry.