As children, they would spit their seeds into the stream between
the farms that bordered fields of grass that swayed them through their teens.
He’d meet her by the tender pear they’d planted by the brook
and there their first flirtations grew to journeys in a book.
They dreamt of golden futures, made love in fevered hymns,
and there she’d listen gently to the musing side of him.
“My love for you is growing much like this tender pear.
If ever you should need me you shall always find me there.”
Their paths too soon divided. Their worlds ripped them apart
but still he’d hear her promise whisper softly to his heart.
“My darling I must leave you, but one day I shall return
so we can age together just as we’ve always yearned.”
In fruit and bloom two times a year, the pear tree called again -
with flowers for her girlhood dream, and fruits for one grown man.
Summers passed and winters came and each successive year
their solo visits to the tree brought words that they held dear.
No matter where life took them they’d always heed the call
and both would smell the blossoms, she in Springtime, he in Fall.
The years grew long, their bodies tired, as lifetimes took their toll
but finally winter came for them; they’d finally reach their goal.
Up to the sacred place he climbed just as he’d always vowed
and there he found her resting, beneath the frozen boughs.
In the sunset’s fading glory from the cabin built nearby
the scent of pear fed smoke rings led so gently towards the sky.
By the stump, one final message -“In the winter join me here.
Let me rest for all eternity beside what I hold dear.”
Silver tree rings hold the story, of life, of love, of age -
As vines curl into filigree around their final page.
Author notes
For years, I have passed this amazing pear tree that simultaneously fruits and flowers two times each year. To me it has come to represent a miracle of sorts - the feeling of promise and fruition side by side.
Just this week orange construction tape surrounds its trunk... a death toll.
In listening to Barber's piece, I wept for the impending loss and had to try to create a piece that would capture the sweetness and the pain.
Reads best if you listen to Adagio for Strings while you read - to slow down the read and the impact.
www.modern-strings.de/sound/barber.htm
www.modern-strings.de/sound/barber.htm
Only wish this read more like a perfect sonnet and less like a bad country western song.
With great thanks to leo2 for helping me to make this more than it was.
Written October 26th, 2004
In a list
A contest entry
- Martooni's Music & Poetry Challenge #1 by Martooni.
400 points, ended November 1, 2004, 4 entries
Bronze trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 13 of 13
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Many thanks go to you, leo, for your invaluable help in shaping and shifting this towards its current state. Your help was immeasurable.
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This is truly beautiful. You've captured a tender yet very sad love story. Wonderfully written. The finish product is perfect.
Sincerely,
Leo Long -
jane -
this is a lovely but a sad story. i am sorry to hear of your tree becoming a victim of "progress" I had to go find the popular Barber Adagio because your story did not immediately connect with it..
I think that Barber's beautiful piece would enhance the reading of any poem if played in the background
Good luck in this contest.
make sure you take some pictures of your pear tree....
Susan
Edited on Oct 26, 11:09 p.m. because ''. -
From one balladeer to another (who does NOT eschew rhyming couplets) I might suggest, if you were to listen to Sir Hamilton Harty's orchestral poem "The Children of Lir"
(Chandos ABDT1051), that similar enlightenment might reward as has my reading of your poem to the accompaniment of Barber's beautiful, if unrelated, string movement. Applause.
love and hugs, XXX Hugh. -
I love stuff like this, sentimental old fool that I am. Not that I think the poem is sentimental in any way- it is an allegory that we all can relate to, or aspire to relate to, beautifully told.
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heartnsoul,
Now there's two voices that could do just about anything ever written justice! Quite a different perspective for me to imagine this interpreted by them. Thank you for reading, for offering your kind words of encouragement and especially for giving me another way to see this.
Jane -
absolutely wonderful
My dear,dear Martooni, a bad country song? Not if Emily Lou Harris were singing it! Actually, I hear a duet. Linda Rhonstadt and Aaron Neville. But then that's me. This is a beautiful ballad. A tender love song. What a wonderful tribute! -
All I can say is WOW WOW WOW WOW!!! what a Incredible piece written about growing old, and their relationship along lifes long journey. And As I was reading I could actually smell the pears,and kinda taste of pears, And hear the water rushing down by the brooke. And no this doesn't sound like a bad country western lol. Good luck in the contest.
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Thanks guys. I'm breathing much easier about this now that I've had your encouraging words. Isn't it strange how it feels so right at first, but then, just a single phrase you add gives you that gut queasy feeling - like uh-oh.. it just might not work as I had thought.
Thanks for putting my mind at ease.
Now, anybody know how to graft a limb of one tree, onto another?
(yup, you're right. I am obsessed. lol) -
wow this is incredible. it is beautiful and so full of feeling. I hate what we do to our countryside.
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this is a fantastic, wonderful and inspiring piece, well done!
Keep writing,
Melanie x -
I love the smell of pears, the taste of pears, the shape of pears. When I see pears dripping from a tree, I need to stop and stare at it. I don't know why. Actually fruit does that to me but we all know by now my mania.
Beautiful, sad story .. Good luck in the contest, my dear. No no I don't get bad country and western .. I really don't.
Me.
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Jane, this is so lovely, what a wonderful piece written about growing old, their relationship along lifes long journey, very touching and heartwarming, good luck in this contest, really, it's beautiful.....read your author's comments, it's not like a bad country western song, lol....I've heard bad country western songs!
Ann
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