Four Dead Trees (Smith Sonnet)
Four Dead Trees
(A painting by Edward Hopper: Four Dead Trees)
The sky is icy-blue with cirrus clouds
and looking out to grasp the sea the pale
horizon sinks to shroud its blurry edge.
It’s there the four dead trees stand tall
like pallid ghosts amid a field’s dry grass;
two like straight poles and two with outstretched arms
that beckon morning’s light as if they ask
why they were made to stand in endless gloom
where doleful road descends the hill in slow
decline en route toward the swells. The roll
on greener land is rough with tilted woods
where fierce and stormy winds have shaped
these whiter, bark-less trunks to stand like bone
to face the failing hours —with murmured tone.
.
.
© RH Peat 1/18/2012 3:58pm
Form: Smith Sonnet / blank verse
with rhyming couple closure.
Metaphor: Dead but still standing.
A Challenge by Poets Forum Magazine.
Retired sentries in a doleful era of transition. Witnesses to the past awaiting their role in an unknowable future. It sings. I can hear the wind.
I love this word painting Ron! [these whiter, bark-less trunks to stand like bone to face the failing hours —with murmured tone.]
Nice sonnet to read!
"these whiter, bark-less trunks to stand like bone to face the failing hours —with murmured tone." The chosen metaphor is wonderfully conveyed in this well written sonnet...Thanks for introducing us to the Smith Sonnet...
Well crafted Ron ! The photo of those dead trees look like accusing fingers pointing at God ! -Raj
I like the expressions here , the dead trees longing for life , not giving up till the woods karma is done with. The descending road , the rough green roll and the merciless cold stormy winds that lend a dimension of humility to the once green trees that are no more than a pallid ghost of time.
Dorothy, I think what Ron meant by "serious" is gray, perhaps even ominous, oppressive, veiling sunlight as it were.
I like this very much and had not heard before of this form: Smith Sonnet/blank verse...of course, I must try writing one. You paint a fine picture with words...I do question, however, "serious" clouds.... Dorothy A Poet Who Loves To Sing
I especially like the concluding couplet. On the whole, an engaging read - and haunting. I'll be sure to look into Hopper's work.
An affecting piece. Your words paint a more powerful image than the picture you've chosen could ever show (And the picture you've chosen brings with it quite an impact indeed).