A message in the woods

A piece of bark from the paper birch, Betula papyrifera, snagged in a twig on my path in the woods. © BCP 2010

Same woods, different day. New path.

Today I chanced upon this perfect piece of birch bark, snagged on a twig. It got me thinking, and remembering.

Did you know that you can peel the layers of such a piece of birch bark, carefully, v-e-r-y  slowly? And that, finally, you come to the softest, most pliable piece of pale pink bark that makes a writing surface as smooth as the finest vellum?

When I was young, a thousand years ago, I used to hunt for such a perfect piece of bark on the ground in the woods at the camp where I spent my summers. Once located, I would take the bark to my cabin, and, when I had free time, I would painstakingly peel away its layers until I got a beautiful piece of paper to write on.  Then, using a fine-nibbed fountain pen, I would write a letter home to my parents, telling them about my experiences in the woods. I like to think I thanked them, although to be honest, I don’t remember.

Years later, I repeated the process, only I sent letters on birch bark to my daughter at her camp.

She knew why I did it, too.

Today, in the woods, a perfect piece of birch bark, just waiting for a message.

Maybe the fairies will use it.

© BCP 2010