i.m. The ‘Discovery’ Tree, c. 609-1853
5 September 1876, Calaveras Big Trees State Park, four miles northeast of Arnold, California – At the Calaveras Grove there stood a tree which the guidebook says took 5 men 25 days to cut down, the work being performed with pump augers. Upon the stump which measures 25 feet across a pavilion has been erected in which 32 persons danced 4 sets of cotillions at one time.
(From the journal of Victor Emmanuel Smyth)
In winter small sequoia flowers bloomed
turning the green crown golden in cold sun –
pollen falling on snow in yellow clouds
dusted each bough and needle as it fell.
The Miwok saw this as they hunted game,
Miwok meaning people in the Miwok tongue.
Whether angered, astonished, oblivious,
caught up by grief, or laughing at something
awkward someone said, still they would make
their various plans under this gilded smoke,
this catch of flame – during 1244 years
they did no harm but held this tree in grace,
stored in their varied hearts like blood is worn,
like all the living bones we travel in.
