Past Maturity
My trunk has greyed,
my body bent,
my branches twisted,
from years of beating sun.
My heart has died,
too many years of growth
have sapped my spirit;
yet I still appraise my land.
No leaves or foliage grow,
no blossom blooms in spring,
no fruit, no seeds
that fall and feed.
I’m tired and broken down,
the wind blows yet
I feel no movement
In my soul.
Large wrinkled cracks
line my weathered face.
My bark long gone and
my trunk well polished.
One time magnificent,
the tallest tree around,
the greenest leaves,
fruit most sought.
Time, wind and sun,
have aged my body,
my many, many rings
add far too many years.
Pretty birds I used to love
no longer perch and feed;
the butterflies, the bees
that pollinate long gone.
Past beauty that I am
forgotten, and ignored,
soon I will fall, break,
decay, mould and rot.
My rotting remains
soon composted
so I can now return
as goodness to the earth.
New growth now born,
new trees, grasses, plants,
blossoms that give food
to feed our hungry land.
The cycle of life means
I will grow again to
give life, sustain growth,
help maintain our world.
So life goes on……….
Bob Blackwell
2 July 2007
The comparisons are simply soulful Bob in this well crafted poem. Excellent piece without a doubt for me. Kate
The poem starts with a touch of melancholia and ends with hope sir, Very nice to read. The earlier part of the poem is very touching and your lines are very poignant indeed.
I am enchanted by the very title of this soul stirring piece of poetry Bob.Your ever green mind keeps on reminding us of how we should rule over our limited lives full of realities.Excellent poem.
Thanks for sharing this great piece.. Cat
Profoundly composed poem. The last line sums up everything.
yes, it seems sad but then we realize this cycle has gone on for many years... and it is beautiful... thanks for this exquisite poem
Well written piece on the cycle of life...nice poetic use of the tree symbol, Bob
That's Life....beautifully penned!
An excellent take on the tree of life...TFS Bob and Happy New Year to you
Bob , it is true that the cycle of life moves on , while we get to learn from our seniors like you to live in this present as we move on ; and also hope for a better future later on ! Thanks for sharing , -Raj
As I follow your poem through Bob, I perceive the full cycle. Your love of nature is apparent in this earthy piece.
"The cycle of life means / I will grow again..." should be so. Indian believes that soul never dies just changes the shapes as we replace new cloth in the place of torn and old one. ...Apart from this philosophical exercise, the logical spontaneous move is unique. Logical but spontaneous....beautiful.
great write bob! the tree of life.
This is how life looks like when many people get old, but you are young in your heart and the years went by with great lessons and wisdom you gained. A lovely poem.
A full and observant description of the life of a tree - the personification helps us see the reason for beginnings and ends Bob - - an interesting piece of natural heritage which many these days do not appreciate. Happy New Year dear friend.
it is strange how the life cycle starts and reaches the same point after many years to decay, and start afresh 1a very wise poem bob.......to prove anything that goes comes back again !