"O carballo de Luxís" (Luxís Oak) pays tribute to the Tree Day
On the initiative of the Crecente Vega Commission and with the support of the Castro de Rei Council, the publishing house Espiral Maior has recently published the book “O mundo nun puño de remol -poesía póstuma-” ("The world in a fist of ember -pomous poetry-") by the poet Xosé Crecente Vega. Ahead of March 21, we celebrate Tree Day by sharing the English version of one of the unpublished poems collected in this book, “O carballo de Luxís” (“Luxís oak”).
LUXÍS OAK
He is an aged oak, hundreds of years old,
Shelter and honour to Luxís house.
He is one of the best shaped, healthiest,
And biggest trees growing in our country.
Three men are not enough to embrace him. His stalks
Are long and thick like trunks.
It is obvious that he took roots
Willing to become somebody someday.
Not even a ray of sunlight is able
To break such a thick foliage.
Under his shape, the summer is not perceived.
His freshness is the freshness of life.
He protects the ancient noble residence:
Luxís country house is its name.
He was born and raised there, and he covers
almost two acres of land with his branches.
Sometimes, he talks as if he was caressing
with his thousands of blurred tongues.
He whispers, for sure, in a low voice,
Traditional stories about young and old women.
Or maybe he will pray for the soul
Of the old people that left the house,
For the soul of the deceased landlords
That he will never forget.
Some others, he seems like a huge giant
Because of his husky and powerful voice.
He is like an aristocrat: arrogant.
He is like a mythical hero: impressive.
That is why everybody that goes by
Stops to stare at him with admiration.
They enjoy gazing at him, with affection;
They show respect, with conscience.
It is known that
When the last local passed away
He talked about the oak and said:
"He is an old friend of this home.
I want you to respect him
As well as your parents did.
None of his stalks should ever be cut.
He was never pruned: do not prune him."
