Thumb Rules

I learned recently how to measure the length of a lei,

officially, circle-length of Aloha, which is

akin to the foot length of the forearm-

between the wrist and elbow-

you find a number true to you and I

By 

some magic formulae.

I studied the man taking long counting strides,

his lips moving,

as he measured the distance

between us

as if following a treasure map

leading to nothing.

At the last minute meeting,

the Scottish Architect wanted to know 

how many trees must go?

And he asked about the slope situation 

and the root removal.

Half the canopy distance wise-safer than sorry. 

And the roots must remain

for erosion control.

This was no rule of thumb but

the architect squinted and 

reconsidered his angle.

As it was above,

so it was below.

With the measurements being equal,

the length of walking away,

by the width of a tree,

the gold coins were spread

lavishly.

Image: Il Tratto di Scientia d'Arme (Camillo Agrippa), 1553 (Second guard of Camillo Agrippa in his 1553 treatise) in Public Domain.