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# The Maple on Calder
- URL: https://www.fsm.ink/the-maple-on-calder/
- Published: 2026-07-31T20:25:14.000Z
- Updated: 2026-08-03T23:58:16.000Z
- Author: Staff
- Tags: Poetry, #Import 2026-08-03 09:59

*By Jade Erickson*

Before there was grieving,  
there was a maple tree  
that knew all our names.  
I grew up in her branches,  
where she held our laughter,  
our curiosity, and our wonderment.  
But her arms no longer  
reach toward the sky.

You can never imagine  
the last time you’ll stand  
beneath the tree that raised you.  
But the wind untied every limb  
that I knew by heart.  
Never asking permission—  
mistaking our story for debris.

I never thought I’d outlive that maple.  
I thought she would always be waiting there.  
But the wind left a stillness  
louder than the sirens,  
with no blueprint to rebuild.

The maple taught us to climb  
without the fear of falling,  
that home can have bark  
instead of a roof,  
and that scraped elbows and knees  
were a small price to pay  
for memories that were too large  
to fit in one photo album.

The maple tree taught us  
how to come home,  
the wind is teaching us  
how to let go,  
and the earth is teaching us  
how to grow again. 

---

The maple on Calder Street wasn't remarkable because it was the biggest or oldest tree. It was remarkable because it held my childhood, being a witness to our lives. It was there for ordinary moments that became the foundation of who I am. It taught me that places can raise us without even speaking. After the July 2026 tornado destroyed both the tree and much of the neighborhood around it, I found myself mourning something difficult to explain. This poem is about how places—and sometimes a single tree—can become part of our identity, and how their loss reminds us just how deeply we are rooted in home.I wrote this poem because I believe trees don't just grow in the ground—they grow into us.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/b7/d1/b7d1b6d1-443f-4e09-b301-d344accb0bbe/content/images/2026/07/PXL_20260727_204251292.jpg)

Image of the maple on Calder after the destructive tornado that hit Menasha Wis. on July 27th, 2026\. Image courtesy of Jade Erickson.

> Through poetry, I’ve found a way to cope with life’s struggles. I’ve turn them into strength through language. My inspiration comes from my personal experiences, other artists, and the beauty of the world around me. I hope my work resonates with you and gives you a glimpse into my journey.