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The Withered, Old Stick


In my garden, there was a withered, old stick.
It was a beautiful flower, before it got sick.
I tried to pluck it but, with a defiant stance,
My wife said, "Don't, honey.  Give it a chance."

Many months passed and the stick didn't grow.
It just stood there laughing at me and my hoe.
But I kept my word and I left the old stick alone.
A full year passed and it still hadn't grown.

Then one morning while pruning a plant nearby,
Something green to my right attracted my eye.
A delicate bud had come up through the earth.
The old stick was not dead! It was a rebirth!

All that time, my wife never once gave up hope.
I called her to see it, though I felt like a dope.
I should have known she was right, for, you see,
Long, long ago, she did the same thing with me.

In a list

A contest entry

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Comments

1 - 11 of 11
  • brkn4u
    May 9
    Edit | Reply

    its true

    its strange out life springs up out of death adn beauty out of nothingness aint it?


  • AusStar gold member
    May 4

    Edit | Reply
    Well your wife sounds wonderful, but if there's a dead stick in my garden, its dead!!! in fact I buy them half dead to save time. I'm your classic black thumb!


  • lilblueeyesmine1978
    December 24, 2007
    Edit | Reply
    I am adding this to the finalists list thanks for sharing it. I loved this.

  • sidewinder silver member
    December 17, 2007

    Edit | Reply
    It's funny what we see in life and can idenify with
    whether it in our own expereinces or in nature.

    I did enjoy this!
    Keep penning on one stroke at a time!
    Bill


  • She Has My Heart
    December 16, 2007

    Edit | Reply
    Aww dagnabbit, stop being so good!!!

    I was thoroughly enjoying reading this when I came upon the last two lines and they just bowled me over! *Smack* and I was gone! What a truly great ending, I love it!

    Your rhyme and flow as always is impeccable and the story you tell so full of...I don't know, something different, something special. You have a talent for catching both the reader's heart AND mind and that's something not many poets can do. Feel Superior! Cos you are

    I just read the stories below and they're great I especially liked the bit where Night Hope said she didn't whack Don with the shovel

    Anywho good luck in the contest, if I was the judge, this'd be a no-brainer!

    Take care x


    • Mark Rickerby gold member
      December 17, 2007

      Edit | Reply
      SHMH,

      Thanks so much for your comment, and for letting me know the last two lines had the desired response.

      Have a great week!

      Mark

  • klassy lassy
    December 15, 2007

    Edit | Reply
    Appearances rarely show the heart of things. My husband's grandma gave me a cutting from a climbing yellow rose. I wanted to plant it next to the backyard fence so I could see it from the kitchen windows while I washed dishes. It blooms about 30'up, a crown of roses in our holly tree--in the front yard. Not wanting to take care of it, my husband planted it there where the ground had a lot of asphalt so it would die, but it was Grandy who died--the next winter. The rose is about 20 years old now. I call it's Grandy's Legacy. He should've known better. Grandy wanted me to have it...and I swear she made it grow. Passers-by always do a double take when it begins to bloom!


    • Mark Rickerby gold member
      December 16, 2007
      Edit | Reply
      Karen,

      Reading the story of "Grandy's Legacy" made writing this poem worthwhile. It's so true that appearances rarely show the heart of things. So so true. Thanks.

      Mark

  • Night Hope gold member
    December 15, 2007

    Edit | Reply
    "All that time, my wife never once gave up hope.
    I called her to see it, though I felt like a dope.
    I should have known she could do it for, you see,
    Long, long ago, she did the same thing with me."

    Ok, I definitely love this one, my Friend. God Bless her for her Faith & persistence. I have seen the same situation before. There was a (supposedly) dead pear tree in the backyard at Don's dad's house. I accidentally whacked it with a shovel once, trying to make a path through the bushes so we could plant a garden. Guess I made it mad, 'cause it bloomed again...after years of bein' dormant. No, I never whacked Don with the shovel, but I did water & nurture him quite often. Good luck in the contest, Scribe. Wanda


    • Mark Rickerby gold member
      December 15, 2007
      Edit | Reply
      What a great story, Wanda. I'm glad you didn't whack Don with the shovel, but I must say that's exactly what men need sometimes. lol I guess you woke that pear tree up, huh? I wonder if arborists know that technique. lol

      Thanks for being the first to comment yet again, pal.

      Mark

      • Night Hope gold member
        December 15, 2007
        Edit | Reply
        I never needed to, Mark; he bloomed quite beautifully of his own volition. You betcha, Sweetie.
1 - 11 of 11