The Mighty Sequoia

The 1st, 4th, and 5th stanzas describe the ritual in the moment, but the 2nd and 3rd stanzas are what gesture symbolism to the poem.

The 2nd stanza speaks of Sicilian tradition of planting a tree at the event of a first born. It tells of the special event and the meaning behind that tradition, and speaking that this “planting of a sequoia” could have been a similar festivity. But it tells a more somber tale of this is for the first-born’s death.

This ritual could symbolize the next generation. The new experiences are less of a celebration, and more a product of problems past. I think the last stanza gives evidence of this as it writes:

“Every niece and nephew scattered, the house torn down…
Silently keeping the secret of your birth.”

There is a disconnect in this generation; a glitch in the plan, similar to the death of the first born. The first born is expected to be the strongest, the one that gives meaning to love. If that is taken away, order is lost. The houses and families are not the unit they once were. I think the last line may allude to how this issue is not addressed, yet still a huge one. Sequoia’s are massive, and eventually unavoidable.