catapult magazine

vol. 8, num. 9 :: 2009.04.24 — 2009.05.08

Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree embodies a human characteristic that must have been present since the creation of the world: that of assigning human qualities to trees and attributing deep meaning to their shapes, qualities and uses. A collection of reflections on the trees that are characters in our histories and symbols of critical times, places and ideas.

Feature

Arbor awe

by Josh MacIvor-Andersen

A tale of pilgrimage to the Montezuma Cypress known as El Àrbol del Tule.

Editorial

Waiting, on the lake

by Kirstin Vander Giessen-Reitsma

Lessons from a venerable pair of birch trees on Pleasant Lake.

Articles

The tree of sacrifice, the tree of communication

by Ellyn Wilkoff

A tour of images, holidays, uses, poems and ideas related to trees.

“These trees are prayers”

by Amy Jonason

On one particular created tree as an image of self-expression.

See! There is a new creation!

by Christopher Smith

Why not? After all, trees aren't just for kids.

No un-growth

by Ashley Pharis

On the power of formative experience to set growth in motion.

Modeling the mango

by Carol Brennan King

Lessons from one of Africa's hardiest trees.

Conversation: “Trees”

by The *cino Community

Your opportunity to contribute your own reflections on the trees.

Reviews

Taking us back

by Raymond Blanton

A review of the film Adventureland, directed by Greg Mottola.

Gallery

In case you missed it the first time

Inevitable

by Wm. Anthony Connolly

A neighborhood full of trees inspires reflection.

Top Ten re: nature

by Kirstin Vander Giessen-Reitsma

Memories travel over all kinds of terrain.

Weaving the web

Keeping it real in the market for Christmas trees

Creation Voice

An off-season environmental reflection from Rusty Pritchard for Restoring Eden.

Structural Poetry

Orion Magazine

Images and a statement from artist Zsuzsanna Szegedi.

Columns

Christians and torture

by Rob Vander Giessen-Reitsma

A response to current debates about justifiable tactics for U.S. national security.

daily asterisk

Even in a country you know by heart
its hard to go the same way twice
the life of the going changes.
The chances change and make a new way.
Any tree or stone or bird
can be the bud of a new direction. The
natural correction is to make intent
of accident. To get back before dark
is the art of going.

Wendell Berry
“Traveling at Home” from Traveling at Home

Sign up on our free e-mail list to receive the daily asterisk by e-mail every weekday.