Fingers Going, Fingers Comng

By Fred Lape

This poem, from Fred Lape’s col­lec­tion, Along the Schoharie,” cel­e­brates the almost mys­ti­cal con­nec­tions between the human and the nat­ur­al world and between the present, the past, and the future. 

In the door­yard elms the robins are singing
among the dew wet leaves, the shin­ing branch­es,
and here I stand where my father stood,
their bright­ness on me, as he once loved it.

Down by the brook in the dewy mead­ow
deer poise nose wrin­kled at the water.
So some­one years from now will find them.

New birds, new deer, new trees, new water,
the cycle binds us in like music.
We lean and rest, we stretch our hands
over the pass­ing gen­er­a­tions. You past,
you com­ing, here are my fin­gers touching.


Spring 2021

Volume 39 , Number 1

Share this

The Latest from Landis

Mar 14, 2023

Picturing Landis through the year

Scenic Landis Arboretum just begs to be captured by photographers, professionals and amateurs alike. Enjoy... read more

Mar 14, 2023

2022 Annual Report

View or Download read more

Mar 14, 2023 | Nolan Marciniec

Re-thinking Garden Pests

“When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything... read more

Mar 14, 2023 | Fred Lape, founder of the George Landis Arboretum

Barn Swallows

In this poem, Arboretum founder Fred Lape calls our attention to the “commonplace” miracle of... read more

Mar 14, 2023 | Anita Sanchez

Things Are Looking Up

Tree canopy -- Anita Sanchez Long ago I worked at a nature center, leading walks... read more

Mar 14, 2023 | Laurie Freeman

S-L-O-W Birding: A Primer for Beginners

Are you considering birding? Perhaps you’ve heard that birding is a great way to enjoy... read more

News Archive