Like a tree in a dense forest,
she struggles to grow upwards,
toward the light.
With an unsure beginning,
and shaky, weak roots,
she fights to remain grounded.
Like the tree in the elements,
she sways and bends
with the turbulent,
ever changing weather of her environment.
The violence wreaks havoc
and threatens to break her spirit.
With branches twisted, growth appears stunted.
Whispers of nurturing along the way,
replenish her, just as the sun and rain
provide a renewed strength for the growing tree.
Despite its challenges,
the tree thrives,
and its twisted limbs and knotted bark
tell a story of character and perseverance.
Though her challenges have brought much pain,
she hangs on,
because, like the tree,
she knows her purpose here
is still important and valuable.
There is still so much to give,
and so much she cannot yet
begin to understand.
The goal for both the tree and her,
is not only for survival, but also for a life
with an understood and meaningful purpose.
Author notes
I have come a long way in my acceptance and healing.
No matter how much one suffers in life, we all have a purpose for being here. We must stay until we figure out what that is, and share our gift to help others. 
A contest entry
- Nature Heals Contest by kareneisenlord.
1200 points, ended April 27, 2008, 42 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Nature Nuts by xox-emma-xox.
425 points, ended April 5, 2008, 9 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Only Hope by only1love4ever.
605 points, ended June 2, 2008, 25 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - The Refuge of Poetry in Times of Great Sorrow by FunnelWaxFate.
700 points, ended July 28, 2008, 19 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Quote Prompt # 5 by BluesMan.
1800 points, ended June 27, 2008, 20 entries
Bronze trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Options! Prewrites accepted. by after-silence.
900 points, ended July 14, 2008, 21 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - 'Top Billing' Poet to my Page - 2nd Annual Contest - Prompt Anything by Florida Sunshine.
525 points, ended August 30, 2008, 28 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Deep Poetry For Lonely Person by Redeemed15.
425 points, ended August 7, 2008, 13 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Feelings by Heavenly Angel.
450 points, ended August 18, 2008, 24 entries
Silver trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - What is the meaning of Life? by SweetRoses.
525 points, ended September 26, 2008, 13 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Inspiration/Inspire me by Jenny84.
700 points, ended October 15, 2008, 16 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - FOR MY FAMILY , FRIENDS! AND EVERYONE ELSE---COME ENTER PW--PW--PW--ENTER . GOLD gets 1,000 points by echo-ink.
1450 points, ended October 16, 2008, 17 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - I Am Choosing My Cabinet Members by Olivias Violin.
575 points, ended November 5, 2008, 23 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Purpose (meaning of life) by Pisces rainbow.
1850 points, ended October 26, 2008, 17 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - inspire me!! by fluffatron69.
700 points, ended November 2, 2008, 14 entries
Bronze trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - The Abilities That I Have. by CountryCousin.
1750 points, ended November 20, 2008, 11 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Give me your Best Poem Ever! by PianoMan.
1000 points, ended November 28, 2008, 21 entries
Bronze trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Faith Reborn by Gentle Lion.
1000 points, ended February 15, 26 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Nature and the Seasons by Vertigo-.
1400 points, ended January 10, 18 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Bring me Back my MUSE!! by Meej.
1750 points, ended March 15, 17 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Inspire me. by Simp.
550 points, ended April 4, 15 entries
Bronze trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - What makes you confident xxx by Scarlet x Stone.
550 points, ended November 2, 14 entries
Bronze trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
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Hey, i really like your write, well deserving of all the trophies you have received. I love how you compare the two, such natural beauty xxx
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Thanks for joining my first ever contest.
In the beginning I was a bit confused and had to double check to make sure I haven't read this one yet. 'she struggles to grow upwards,
toward the light.' this makes me think about another entry that I read earlier.
I like the idea behind this. I like reading this. -
I thought I had read this before!
It won honorable mention in a contest on 'nature heals' that I did a while back. It is truly lovely and very inspirational. I see that many others agree. It was wonderful to read again. I needed the encouragement today. Thank you for posting this on our group page...
Wow! So many trophies. I think that you wrote it originally for my contest. I am proud that it went on to win more; and gold ones! So deserving of these and more. It is a very special poem. I love the tree as a metaphor of strength and learning in life.
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Congrats on the wins! All well deserved!
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lovely write. i enjoyed the imagery very much. trees are our best friends, indeed. i see so many shiny trophies. congrats.
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Ahhhh
I love this, and your right it is on the same page as my journal entry about soaring. I think we may be kindred spirits you and I? Powerful write full of wonderful imagery and an profound message of hope. No wonder it got so many trophies.. I only wish I could write poetry such as you! You might like my poem "When had she Locked up the Rain" I don't know how to send you the website addy here like you sent me.. but you know where my page is.
Jo
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Wow, this is breathtaking! I love your comparison of the person to the tree, it is both very valid and very artistic.
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I really like this poem and can see why it has won so many awards. I like the parallel between the tree and working through life and what it throws at us.
I love the expression of persistence...of rising above it all and finding a purpose through it all.
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such a positive and humble write. I can feel this poem was written straight from the heart. Truly enjoyed this poem. L,
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great poem, realy uplifting well writen
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wow...i love the comparison to the tree. it was just breath taking. thank you so much for entering my contest and best of luck.
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Wow what an uplifting and inspirational write! I could so relate to so much within. Such vivid imagery and emotion. Yes we never need to give up on life no matter how hard things get. hugs
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You are amazing. Your writing is so beautiful
Thank you for entering.
Suzann -
This is amazing, you are a very talented writer. Thank you for entering
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A very successful poem it seems, the message in this poem is a very strong one. Well written and well worded. The imagery and flow were perfect.
Thanks for entering.
Laura -
Good work...You've obviously done fabulously in previous contests...
You have hit the nail on the head with this poem and used the analogy of the tree very poetically and very cleverly..
When reading the first few stanzas of the poem it seemed like it was written just about me, which, i believe, is the mark of a good poem; its ability to make anyone feel they can relate, and this you have done well.
This helped me to remember where I have come from and what i've already grown from, making me realise i'm just about to grow again. Great great write.
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Thanks for your entry. This is really wonderful
Good luck in the contest!
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What a gorgeous poem!
This was really wonderful, I loved the message and it was very strong (and has obviously been very popular!!)
Beautifully written with a lovely flow to it and impeccable freeverse.
I am very pleased to have had this entered into my contest.
Keep up the excellent writing!!
--Stardust xx
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I can see, after all those contests, how one can favour as such, sadly, my free verse is lacking, and your is magnificent, I thinnk your read will teach me the rules of suggestive free speech for my future improvements. Ncely done
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wonderfully written... thank you for entering and good luck
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Loverly!
I love concrete ideas and you nailed it! Good luck in the contest. -
Absolutely wonderful! And I see others think so, also. ;D Thank you for entering!
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THis is a very beautiful uplifting, heartfelt poem. I like it a lot. I like the comparrison to the tree. It really gives you something to envision.
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Wow. This is a great poem. It has a very encouraging message telling us that no matter what we will persevere. Wonderful job and thanks for entering!
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good job im glad that akes one of us good write
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A great entry
thanks for taking part, wishing you luck would be an insult to your talent so take care
message me for anything
Billy (Rhythm Child) -
How lovely
You write with such a sweet and tender sense of emotion, and a sense of love, life and light comes through powerfully. I love the symbolism here! Well done on a great write, and congrats on all your trophies. Thanks for entering the contest
peace xx -
This was so amazingly written. I like your imaginary and the feeling in this poem.
Thanks for sharing, best of luck.
~Noor -
I love how you used the tree as your metaphor great and powerfully written
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Thanks so much for your kind comment. Blessings, Patty
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here is a case for your trohpys... Thanks for the entry
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I can see that you have.
This reminds me of my patient, despite her pain and it is severe she continues on. I really do like this entry.
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Thanks so much for your kind comment. It is much appreciated! Blessings, Patty
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I can see why this has received such fantastic comments - good luck in my contest.
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I had not read this poem but i found it so beautiful. The comparison between the tree and the girl are wonderful. Such a great spirit you put into this piece. Like the tree i can see her standing tall and proud and allowing herself to bend just enough to keep herself from falling. You did a fantstic job on this piece with the rhythm keeping me slowing working my way down the page. I can well image this tree and girl standing side by side taking their place in life. Every living thing has a purpose and that purpose must be lived. Noone should discourage it. Just delightful, Patty. Just magic in itself, and the picture really sets it off.
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Wow! Thanks so much for such a wonderful and thoughtful comment. I truly appreciate your friendship and support. Blessings, Patty
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This poem made me sit up and take notice allright! I enjoyed the poem even though there were no rhymes, which is a rarity for me! The last stanza is the more poingant of the poem, and that's my fave stanza for this reason. Good write and good luck in the contest!
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Wonderful!!!
Love the last three lines.
Congratulations on all the awards for this poem
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This is beautiful
and thank you, not depressed just curious by nature, and you have written a perfect write that fits well, I have had my share of challenges and more to come I am sure, I can relate to this as most will.you are right life is not simply to survive, it is to be lived and enjoyed.
Gorgeous soulful write
Thank you for a lovely addition to this contest
God bless you...
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Thanks and I am glad you liked it. The depression reference was written for someone in another contest I believe.
Blessings, Patty
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WOW! Loved it, and congrads on all the trophies.
Bell, xx -
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Thanks much for the kind comment and also for the honorable mention in your contest. Blessings, Patty
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ty for entering good luck
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WOW
This fits my contest perfectly. Thank you so much. I really enjoyed it. -
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Thank you! I am glad you like it, and I hope it helps some. Blessings, Patty
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I really should not allow this poem because it has won so many trophies but I did not write that on my contest page, and I did say there were no restraints.
With that said; your poem is an inspiration. I love the use of metaphor, and the power in each verse.
Brilliant!
Thank you for this entry and I wish you well in this challenge.
CONGRATULATIONS ON EARNING ALL THE BLING BLING. This poem is surely worthy of the merit.
Much Love & Respect ♥
Renee
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I understand and will remove it if you want me to. Thanks for such a nice comment. It is much appreciated. Blessings, Patty
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this has many good images in it. very good metaphor too. best of luck and thanks for entering!
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Thank you much! Patty
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This is exacting what I was looking for. It brings such clearity and peace. Thank you so much for entering this.
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Thank you! I am glad you like it, and I hope it helps you in some way. Blessings, Patty
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Thank you so much for this stunning entry in my contest.
It is deep with meaning.
Delila -
Thank you for your beautiful and profound entry, good luck in my contest, Josie
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Beautiful
Everyone has a purpose in life, although it is not always easy to understand. You did a wonderful job with this.... almost as though you etched your soul with words and displayed them on canvas for all to see. -
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Thank you for your wonderful comment. It is appreciated! Blessings, Patty
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Wonderful comparison, congratulations on your prior wins with this, it is a great poem. Thank you for entering the contest, good luck.
♥
whisper
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wonderful write, a great comparison. thank you for entering.
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you understand depression and this a great poem, welcome to the finalist list
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Great write showing how you can persevere at something and prosper in the end. Excellent idea with the comparison to the tree.
Nice work,
Michael
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The journey through life and spirituality is one we all must find for ourselves. I really could dig what you are saying here. Excellent job
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Patty, this is a gorgeous piece. I so admire imagery that is sustained throughout a work, and yours thrives. Beautiful poem!
My compliments,
Camille Morin
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Thank you for following directions. That will be taken into consideration when judging.
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Thanks..don't you hate it when many seem to not even see the rules? Patty
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yes, but I was not extremely clear on that I think.
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Congrats on your silver cup. You deserve it.
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Thanks so much for your kind comment! Patty
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Hopeful
Thank you for sharing such a hopeful and inspiring piece
You've touched my heart with your moving words...
Be blessed! -
Beautifully written poem about the beauty and meaning of nature. Great elaborations & descriptions.
Best of luck & thanks for entering
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Nice job. Don't you hate it when the list of trophies is long but none of them are gold. I have some like that and after awhile I stop trying
thank you for entering. I like this style and thinks it tells an uplifting story.
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Great poem. Good luck in other contests. You had a unique way of writing that I haven't seen in other poems yet.
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WOW you captured my attention from the start. The imagery and metaphors are fantastic. Though the poem is about nature, I feel a connection to it in my 'own' life.
"The violence wreaks havoc
and threatens to break her spirit.
With branches twisted, growth appears stunted.
Whispers of nurturing along the way,
replenish her, just as the sun and rain
provide a renewed strength for the growing "
**** Simply beautiful from start to finish. You've touched me with this one. Thanks for entering the contest ~ I do appreciate you sharing your work with me, it was my honor to review your work.
Best of luck to you,
Florida Sunshine B
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wow its gonna be hard to compete with this poem
the way you parelleled her to the tree in life was lovely and deep.
Like the tree in the elements,
she sways and bends
with the turbulent,
ever changing weather of her environment.
this is so life, its always changing an peeps are always bending an some even break. the ones that bend can weather the changes. i love that stanza an the whole poem too.
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very good! I really liked the last stanza
thanks for entering my contest! -
Excellent and Worthy
You have indeed come a long way my friend. Life for me is still answering questions etc. LOL today a young boy wated someone to help him by watching him give himself a good thrashing on camera because he wouldn't get better marks at school.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! well what next!
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Thanks so much Jan! LOL.sounds like you have your hands full! Patty
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Very inspirational!
You a great job with this piece! my hat's off to you my friend!
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Thanks so much for the kind comment and for adding me to your favorites. I look forward to reading more of your writing. Patty
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Oh, this piece is absolutely splendid! The message is so inspiring and uplifting; so true to life. A superb metaphor!!! The third stanza reminded me of how, I feel, as we mature, if there is one person of love, or incident, or experience, or belief that instills a moral ground, then we can endure through all of the horrors and difficulties that life may present; how even the smallest ounce of love can rescue us from turmoil, especially as small children, where it becomes ingrained in sponge-like minds of youth. “Whispers of nurturing along the way,/Replenish her,/Just as the sun and rain/Provide a renewed strength /For the growing tree.” Every bit of encouragement and love can go so far, lift us up so high, I feel…I absolutely adored the fourth stanza. Very insightful write, so true to life, and so motivating and encouraging! How, despite all the destruction and tragedy we may face, each one of us builds from it, in character and spirit, and thrives and perseveres and learns and matures…and how we all have a specific purpose, to never forget that, don’t give up; every single person, like each tree in a dense forest, is there for a reason, that in life, we are not just here to survive and exist without significance, but to fulfill our purpose, the whole reason we were placed on this earth. Very deep, meaningful write. Absolutely adored it! Excellent imagery and beautiful use of language. Well done!!!!!
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Thanks so much for such a wonderful and thoughtful comment. It means a lot to me. Blessings, Patty
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this was good thank you for entering my contest good luck
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I love the strength and hope in this piece. You do a fantastic job of drawing the parallel here and I am very much in love with the metaphor itself. The last three lines are so perfect. Again, great poem and I'm so glad I had a chance to read it. Thanks for entering my contest!
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Thanks for your thoughtful and kind comment. Patty
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Great imagery and comparisons. I enjoyed this so much. Good luck in the contest.
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Strength and hope
I feel this poem is about strength and hope. I love the line 'she know's her purpose here is still important and valuable'...brilliant line. This is a poem to signify the hope we search for and find through the difficult times. You are a gifted writer and bring hope to a lot of people, through your healing words. Great work! All the best Neet
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A great analogy of a woman and a tree...both struggling to survive..she sways and bends...That line can mean a lot of different things...
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I like this very much! I can see why you've received several trophies for this poem
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This poem sung to me a very nice take on the prompt Thank you for entering my contest
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Thanks so much for the bronze in your contest. It is very much appreciated. Patty
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I like the poem, but my contest had a line limit of 20. Sorry, I have to DQ.
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Very nicely done. A fluid rhythm and a very vivid metaphore for the reader to be able to draw comparisons to. I enjoyed the read
thanks for your entry. -
this is a great poem and has lots of meaning. thanks for the entry! (just a note: since this is a HM awarded poem it's only qualified for a bronze upgrade.)
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Oh this was so beautifully expressed feelings of nature and imagery flowing. Lovely write!
Thanks for entering & best of luck -
WONDERFUL nature poem! It was not just a bunch of flowery imagery but you turn it into a metaphor and connect it with humanity. Ther is a lot to be learned from this poem, and I will definately read it a few more times to really soak it all in. Thanks for the lovely read!
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Thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful comment. I am glad you enjoyed this. The comments are much appreciated. Blessings, Patty
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It is bizarre to me that we have not crossed paths before now. So many of your commentors are those who comment on my pieces as well. Perhaps only those I find on your poems are the ones who have enough decenncy to comment and therefore show up so often for both of us. Anyway, This piece just like the last one are some of the ones I have read of yours that stand out so strongly to me personally. The tree and the way it lives metaphorically spun into the human spirit is a picture that anyone with a soul and a heart will catch. Those without will do without. I am beginning to worry about our collaboration of reading each other's work as I am not sure if I am in the same league with you? Love the last two you sent me and I see another side of you from them. RC
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the imagery in this piece is outstanding my dear friend!and what a wonderful message it brings! I really enjoyed reading this, thanks for sharing it with me!
Hugs,Ellan
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Superb
Aye, an excellent write, indeed. I thoroughly enjoyed it just as it is. Thank you for sharing this one with us. -
Excellent write here
Yes each of our life's challenges and downfalls and finding our way back up is tthe building of our own unique characters .Forever reaching for the path to lead us to happiness an the understanding of what love truly should be .I say God bless those who finds such trials and difficulties in grwoing up for it was never meant to be this way . Excellent write and I pray your pathway is clear now and you can fly to the highest of your expectations and be free and loved dearly
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Only1love4ever-Reply
There is still so much to give,
And so much she cannot yet
Begin to understand.
The goal for both the tree
And her,
Is not only for survival,
But also for a life,
With an understood and meaningful purpose.
I love how you write. It is the sweetest way to put the most awful thing sometimes. And yet you always find a way. It blesses me more everyday.
Thankyou for sharing this with me.
It is most appreciated.
Good luck.
God Bless.
~Only1love4ever -
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<
Thank you sweetie. Mama
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