Deformity allowed encircling;
Encircling allowed deformity.
A kiss became locked lips,
a touch, shared skin:
a sylvan mystery.
The coupling doubles,
tugging bark but xylem
and phloem too.
With bypasses grafted
shared nutrients flow.
Without one root
or one trunk shaft
both trees survive.
No barrier separates
this symbiotic twist;
Asymmetries do persist.
~ Dr. James Dunstan 11/25/2018
(Dr. Dunstan is the brother of BTC 2021 trainees Betsy Maddux and Bob Dunstan)
photo by J. Dunstan
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