Richard St. Barbe Baker,
The Man of the Trees

This website is the work of Paul Mantle, with the loving help, encouragement, and contributions of many good people.

You are welcome to email me: paul@manofthetrees.org

Recollections, tributes, and photos pertaining to the Man of the Trees are especially welcomed.

Tree of Life

Dedicated to the memory of
Richard St. Barbe Baker

A green-leafed tree
reaches for light,
grows in new directions.

Branches out,
transforms the sun’s warmth
into bounty of blossoms,
sheds a fragrance from God.

Bears seed-carrying fruits,
gives cooling shade
to the next generation;
draws up the deep waters
from where it’s grounded
to help everything grow around it.

It filters the air,
blocks out noise,
welcomes birds above,
earthworms below,
sustains creatures.

Holding the soil,
it shows its colors when the season demands,
feeds, protects, prepares
its own roots
for the season of winter;
stands in the storms,
makes music of winds blowing through.

--Paul Mantle