A tree fell in the forest with a crash,
but none was there to hear the sound it made.
It wasn’t silent, though it wasn’t heard.
The sound it made was like a silence then.
A note was written full of words of love,
but it was never sent and never read.
The words were true, heartfelt and well expressed.
Unread, they made no difference in the end.
A person lived apart and died alone,
so no one noticed that a life was done.
The thoughts and hopes and deeds of it were lost.
It was as though a life had never been.
The falling tree, the words and silent life,
though never sensed, were here, and then were not.
Without effect, they’re not remembered now,
like stories told in whispers to the wind.
A contest entry
- Two years here. by Viva La Vie Boheme.
925 points, ended July 4, 2008, 11 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Best of the best... by Jfd.
1500 points, ended February 3, 34 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - The Unlived Life by bookworm987.
400 points, ended June 26, 29 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 51 of 51
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I like your answer to the riddle. I'll never forget your lines:
It wasn’t silent, though it wasn’t heard.
The sound it made was like a silence then.
Keep waking them up, before you know it there will be real poems everywhere.
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wow this was great, keep it up
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Superb
I can see why this was nominated for the front page and why it won a gold trophy it is a superb piece of writing and will stay with me for a very long time. Thankyou so much for writing this poem and sharing it with me. I will bookmark it if you don't mind my doing that. I would like to be able to read it again and again. With all my very best wishes from Rose xx
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My efforts are all posted in the hope that readers will find them compelling and worth the time spent with them. I am pleased and very gratified to have you bookmark this.
(It is great to hear from you again! It has been awhile!)
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Beautiful is an under statement!!
I cant stop my eyes from reading it over and over..
Brilliant write..
Vonnie
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Thought provoking indeed
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THANK YOU the second stanza gave me the courage to do something ive been meaning todo for a while thank you so much.
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There is an old song about a wooden Indian who loved a figurine of an Indian maiden in the antique store. He never declared his affection, so she could never answer yes or no. The premise of the song is nonsensical, but it does have a moral for those who love in silence.
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its ok
ok cud have been better -
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The poem may be OK, but nothing that exists could have been otherwise than what it is despite whatever it may become vs. its current state.
I see this is your first comment and that you have no poems posted. Perhaps you should post some of your work so Allpoetry members may evaluate and comment on it relative to their subjective tastes or specific, objective criteria. Comments that others make regarding our work may help us become better poets. We may also learn how to comment more effectively and responsibly on others' work.
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and yeah i agree
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So much truth in your poem. I really enjoyed this write! Nice flow!
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Great poem
Nice job. Keep up the good work. -
An excellent thought provoking write. Good as gold.
Happy trails.
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Wow, I see why this was spotlighted! Very well-done. You made me think, dang you! LOL
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Well, thinking is good, so long as you don't overdo it. Everything in moderation, as they say!
I did not know this was spotlighted. I usually read poems from "random" or "return the favor", so I do not look at the home page much. I wish I could thank whoever recommended it, but thank you for commenting. -
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"I wish I could thank..."
It was my pleasure.
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When I re-read your comment and compared it to the spotlight note, I was pretty sure it must have come from you! Thank you very much. It's always an honor to be recognized by one's fellow artists for doing well!
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This poem gave me chills. It's something I've thought about many times, and the vividness of your description is very powerful. I do believe that to a certain degree any decision we make somehow causes an affect simply by the way it changes us, and therefore affects our interactions with others.
Beautiful piece!!
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Excellent point ...
of course, and quite well rendered. Not much else to say I guess.
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this poses an interesting question, if an event or occurrence goes unnoticed does it really diminish it's worth? Nice job, thank you for taking the time to enter.
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So I had this tax return perfectly filled out but never sent it in. You think THAT went unnoticed???
LMAOAM!
(...at myself)
Excellent write!
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A beautifully tragic write sir! I even enjoyed reading your bio on your home page. Not many people are like you left in this world. I hope you don't mind, but I'd like to save your name in my favorites, so I can maybe keep in touch.
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This is a very emotive write, the words have a sense of gentleness about them that stills the soul and makes one stop to think
thanks for sharing this little gem with us
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Ah, Mr. Mosley, your poetry has a way of taking this reader out of the hum-drum, and pondering the what-ifs, whys and the skeleton of existence. The melody of blank verse frames your quandaries so smoothly ,that one must read and reread to capture all.
You've set a rich broth stewing on the back of the stove with this one...With your kind permission, may I write an antiphon?
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Thank you, and it would be an honor!
Some very fine poetry has been written in response to other poetry. I think my favorite is Sir Walter Raleigh's "The Nymph's Reply to the Shepherd" written in response to Christopher Marlowe's "The Passionate Shepherd to his Love".
I don't know if Marlowe saw Raleigh's poem or if he did what his reaction was, but I would very much like to see whatever you write in response to this poem of mine! -
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I would hope not to be quite so flippant as Raleigh. The content of your fine poem draws more serious response. I will try to do it justice. C
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Yes.
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Wonderful use of metaphor, indeed. There's much sadness in these words. I'd say this was a beautifully written poem and a well-deserved win. Thank you for sharing.
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Tremendous metaphor! This poem is certainly gold medal (trophy that is) quality! I enjoyed this poem, since I can identify and resonate with it! These unspoken thoughts and unsent letters, as well as good intentions probably are felt or sensed many of us humans! I thinks the title and last line fit this wonderful poem perfectly! I would change nothing about this poem! I think your words here came from a Master of verse! These words are so provocative and universal, you deserve a lot more than a "few stars", as you say!
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The second stanza especially kind of reminds me of Nights in White Satin. Anyways, I like the descriptiveness of your poem. I know what you're saying, but I can't myself put it into words...I think you express it pretty completely in the last two line.
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"Letters I've written/Never meaning to send"
Your are the first person to reference that lyric! When I think about the song in relation to that line, I wonder if it does not represent a love song never sung to the person for whom it was written.
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What a beautiful write, the words touched my heart and made it feel sad. Such deep emotional pain so beautifully expressed.
Every verse in this poem is a beautiful treasure, all wonderful poetic diamonds, always to be remembered and treasured because of the fine quality your most expressive thoughts and words.
Thank you for sharing your beautiful thoughts , such beauty
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Wow! No wonder you won the Gold trophy for this one. Incredible. Beautifully penned. The words really did send shivers down my spine..But the good kind of shivers. Haha. Good work
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wow, this realy makes you think. great job ^^
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Like stories told in whispers to the wind.
such a lovely final image in this piece that totally wraps up the futility in a sweepy and dulcet tone. your thoughts
and tie together beautifully in this one. your style never doesn't amaze me.
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Wow, I can easily see why you won the gold for this one. It was so thought provoking, but entertaining to read at the same time. Being meaningful and enjoyable at once is a difficult thing to accomplish. Well done.
Thank you for the lovely comment on my poem by the way
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Talk about food for thought; your words feed the mind. I love the way each stanza stands for its own example of what could be but isn't.
The question to ripple through the minds of many throughout history -- if a tree falls and no one is there to hear it does it make a sound?
The last line
"Like stories told in whispers to the wind."
sums up the whole thing.
Excellent job--I enjoyed reading this. I'm sure you will get a lot of folks willing to give their two cents also.
Congrats on Gold ~ Beautiful job!
Florida Sunshine
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This is one of my favorites, and I think it is one which many people not only understand but find reminiscent of their own observations.
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Your really deserved a gold for this, I've read a couple of your poems now and I think I"m becoming a fan, you are a wonderful poet.
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I think most of us write from our own experience of events, emotions or musings. If a poem is going to be shared, I try to write it in such a way that readers may find in it something of their own experience. Otherwise I am just talking at you or at best speaking to you rather than communicating with you.
As I did with your poem "Camping", I like people to come with me into the experience of events, emotions and musings. Perhaps they'll calm my fears or walk with me to the necessary, sharing even the little adventures with me.
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Just beautiful. I love the impact of this poem. It truly won that gold trophy. I loved every line, every stanza! It really made me think, and this poem is so true. I love the title of the poem too. =) This was just excellent, I truly love your work. Keep on writing, until you can't no more!
xXDCXx
~Make Peace, Not War~
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Excellent poem here
I have never heard it worded in such a way and put them together as the tree in the forest but you are so right each of us is like the trees in the forest and today we stand and do nothing to those who are falling .I cry
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It's much like the lights under the bushel. They exist but what difference do they make? To follow your comment, perhaps we should not only not hide our own lights but kick over a few bushels so others may shine as well.
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This is so beautiful and thought provoking. It made me reflect on the sin of neglect we commit on a daily basis to many of God's creation and blessings, even those that are close to us. I can see a dry leaf now hanging on the branch of our Santol tree and I whispered thanks to her for contributing to the shade that protects our house and the cleaner air that city life hardly affords us now.
But you know what I appreciate most, your title very much reflect the beauty of life...nothing is ever useless, untouched, unfelt, unread, unheard, unseen or without impact. We may not have the privilege to know the difference we have made to every being or spirit, whether it is because he won't let us know or he didn't have the chance to do so, but that 'difference' becomes a connection we will never lose forever. And even if the best we did remains unrecognized by the very spirits they were intended for, there is the wind that will never forsake it and because of her our deeds will touch more spirits in the most unexpected ways.
Thanks for sharing this.
mornings,
joy
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Wind, breath, spirit. These are all translations of the Greek word pneuma. Even the word in the Christian New Testament translated into English as inspiration is from this word.
The Santol tree is a divine gift that has been carried from Indonesia throughout much of Southeast Asia. Thank goodness for the wind or the inspiration of some ancient traveler that has made this tree a source of shade, fruit, medicine and even furniture and works of art for so many people. Otherwise it might have existed with little benefit to us in a forest unknown to the world at large.
Even though unremembered, much that is unacknowledged, and unappreciated for the moment will have an effect when wafted on God's breath to a fertile heart and soul. Your sweet spirit and wonderful comments have bloomed in mine. Bless you, dear Lady. -
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You know what?
My 10-year old nephew asked me this question the other day: If a tree in the middle of a forest falls and no one is around to hear it, would it make a sound?
I thought about this poem and our little exchange here, so I thought of reading it to him, and tried to explain our musings here.
My nephew said he heard that from National Geographic, but that question surely struck him which is why he has memorized it, I would think verbatim. English is not our first language, and for a 10-year old it's not quite common to comprehend something so mind-boggling esp. if it's told not in the mother tongue. I just find it interesting.
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That is the very question and answer from my science classes back in my school days from which the first verse was developed, but at least I was about 14 years old before I had to consider it!
To perceive both scientific and philosophical ramifications of the question is unexpected in a 10-year old. When the question is not even posed in his first language, it is amazing. He seems to be a very bright and thoughtful youngster.
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Oh, I like this. I really do. It reminds me of "The Most of It" by Frost. It's cool. And it fits perfectly. I wasn't expecting it. I wonder if the words were read, things would've changed? Hmmm...
I love this poem! Thanks for entering
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Frost is my favorite American poet (with Emily Dickinson close behind). His beautiful and poignant "The Most of It" is a poem I had forgotten until your reference. Now I wonder how deeply it must have ingrained itself in my psyche so many years ago that it found an echo in my words.
To the question you wonder, we'll sadly never know.
"For of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'" John Greenleaf Whittier -
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Yes, "The Most of It" is one of my favourites of his, this definately brought it back strongly. Amazing quote there too!
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