Wow Cara, a bit of something there for everybody, brilliant and thank you for the effort. I loved the bit about the Yew especially, my most "favoritist" tree, a wood turners dream, with coloured streaks of reds, blues, purples, cream, straw and even orange, which are sadly lost over time when exposed. A deadly poisonous wood yet its Taxin being widely used in the treatment of cancer. The flesh of the berries is in fact nutritious but the seeds are deadly. THE BEAUTY OF YEW An ancient symbol of continuity A surviving tower of eternal green Reminder of life everlasting To heathens and Christians alike. The tree of a hundred hidden secrets, In true concealment of inner beauty, Sustainer and preserver of human life Yet also a vicious killer, Mother Kali in sylvan grace. The ancient provider of deadly artillery And deadly, evil toxins Yet its newly found taxin saving lives. Throughout its life an inert symbol But in death a soul revealed With heart of flaming colour Hardened purples, reds to orange, Evolved to gentle outer fawns, Hidden well beneath its shingled armour. And revealed only to its very slayer, The stains of a lifetime then bled away, And lost forever.