The older trees in the wood
have long stood
as the stones have,
steady, in whispered silence;
save for a soft sigh
upon the night wind
as it kisses the green tips
on slender branches.
Stately stanchions
that rise above all,
an elevated stature coming only from age,
arising not
from importance or significance;
The song
they sing is a sanguine song,
made of melodies
affected in slownesses,
crafted by careful weathering,
seasons survived,
unhurried by unfolded time.
Sadness,
brown and deep, obscures the view
as one of these
surrenders his long held place.
Too many storms, it seems,
and winters,
beat too hard
upon his dark scabrous crust.
He was strong
until one last breath of wind
came and took him in the night.
How fragile,
now laid out, he seems to be,
lying next to the steady stones,
silent.
~r.
All rights reserved,
© February, 2005 R. Braley
(astralshepherd)
Author notes
For my father.
Written February 25th, 2005
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Magical words indeed. I'm not totally sure what it is about but is sure swept me off to some place of imagination. I love the expressiveness of word choice. Well Done.
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I wasn't sure what to say the first time I read this poem...at first it gave me a serene image, of walking through the trees and breathing fresh air. Then I read it a second time...it gives me more of a vibe of cleansing, probably of shedding past hurts. This is a poem I like, even though I draw different meaning from it every time I read it. Perhaps we are in a place of dark serenity here? (Is there even such a thing?)
This is moving. I enjoyed my stay.
Many blessings,
Raven Aurora
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Beautiful!
A great and gentle tribute to a fallen tree!
I love"
"Made of melodies affected in slownesses,
crafted by careful weathering, seasons
survived, unhurried by unfolded time"
This poem reminded me very much of one of my favorite spots, "The Nine Maidens", a small wood-surrounded stone circle...
Well done!
Cheers! -
oh,forgot
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your words bring to mind a place in the woods where as you walk along the path,a clearing appears.there you stop and ponder on the tree that has fallen and lies there gone and forgotten by nature or so it seems.many have passed this way and wondered on the passing of such a majestic entity of nature.i like the alliteration also.
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The imagery you have conveyed here is exceptional, probably do to the softeness of the alliteration of the use of s that are running throughout the poem. A sing-song melancholy of a poem, meditative and reflective. gregg
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Wow. This piece is very well written. I deeply enjoyed the images you portrayed. This piece definately hit me, and resounds in my mind. Wow. Very well penned. Bravo.
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