The Study of Trees by E. C. Christie

A large tree in the middle of green woodland. Large white text reads: The Study of Trees. Smaller text reads: Discussing disabled characters in fairy tales and folklore.

A photo (taken by E. C. Christie in Walsall Gallery) of a black chalk drawing of trees by Henri-Joseph Harpignies.

​Countless chameleon faces pause briefly
blend into surreal versions of oneself.
I see Wilfred Owen
coming over the hill towards the Somme.
A crow
near a marble pillar
stares at a lycanthrope’s head, where a man and woman
are dead
in a hanging tree.
A black swan dissolves, while a woman
plays hide and seek with a lover.
The rabbit watches Pegasus in half gallop
bursting free from the banks.
A wendigo grimaces
from the cobwebbed floaters of an illusionist.

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(Poem based on the black chalk drawing by Henri-Joseph Harpigni.)