Why I Plant Redbuds

“If I knew that tomorrow was the end of the world, I would plant an apple tree today.” —attributed, probably incorrectly, to Martin Luther

Whether he really owns the aphorism,
or it belongs to someone else instead
(perhaps it’s a rabbinic witticism),
it sounds like something Luther might have said.
He understood that Yahweh had designed
Adam to be both gardener and priest
in order that humanity would find
work sacred every day, no labor least.
Earth creaks and wobbles on its ancient axis;
it always seems as if we’re near the end.
Now is our opportunity for praxis;
in planting redbud trees, I comprehend
how more time than I have, I cannot borrow
and that one day, there will be no tomorrow.

—Duane K. Caylor

Photo by Jay Sturner via Creative Commons. Image cropped.