Ode to a Beech Tree

Ode to a Beech Tree

How will you be when I return?
Will you stand tall,
Sturdy, elegant, strong?

Both of us know it is unlikely;
Both of us fear you will soon fall.

When I return,
Can I ask you to recount your journey?
What is it like
To witness your decline?

I will console you,
Remind you that you have lived
Where others once stood.

I will comfort you,
Remind you that you will live
In those who follow.

— Xavier Cortada
July 28, 2024
Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, New Hamphire

About the video:

In this video, scientist Lindsey Rustad* explains the emerging threat of Beech Leaf Disease (BLD), caused by the nematode Litylenchus crenatae ssp. mccannii. This microscopic nematode infiltrates beech buds, feeding on the developing leaves and causing distinctive dark banding and a leathery texture. As the disease progresses, it can lead to leaf deformation, premature leaf drop, and the eventual decline of the tree, typically within 5 years. While the beech tree featured in this poem is not yet affected, it is part of a vulnerable population that may soon be impacted by this spreading disease. The work of Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest scientists is crucial in monitoring and addressing this disease, helping us understand its progression and explore potential management strategies. In my continued visits to Hubbard Brook, I will document this tree's journey and the broader impact on the forest ecosystem. As we witness its inevitable decline, we can reflect on the role it will play in nurturing new life, providing essential nutrients for the forest's future growth. This poignant moment underscores the delicate balance within our ecosystems and the continuous flow of life and death in nature's intricate tapestry.

---

*Lindsey Rustad currently serves as the Acting Director of the USDA Northeast Climate Hub and is a Research Ecologist. She has been part of the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest since her days as a master's student in 1982 and has served as my science advisor since I first started visiting this experimental forest in 2012.

Video taken by Adam Roberti, Executive Director, Xavier Cortada Foundation