Disasters, Delights and Other Detours - 46. Trunks and Branches

It's melancholy, in a reminiscent kind of way. But hope, even carried on old bones, is better than none at all. Thank you for your thoughts, and for reading.

This is awesome, I love if the design supports the poem and gives iconographic hints. Great work! Thank you for sharing. Lyssa 🙂

Oh, man... this is one of my all-time favorites of yours, and that's saying something. I got totally lost in the writer's memory, nostalgic for those times in my life. Trees were magical to me, an escape from reality, and made better when shared with a friend. I always wanted to live in one... still do. 

Thanks for taking me back... I think it's time to walk in my woods with Cookie.   ... and congratulations once more, Signature Author! 

What immediately came to mind was the coming of age, boys-in-love novel A Separate Peace. The boys there have their own tree where they can leave behind the trapping of the world, mostly. 

This is a striking poem, both visually and emotionally  

A time when boys climbed trees ... children don't do that as much anymore. To much fear of falling, of getting hurt ... how does one live life without falling, without getting hurt?

This was magnificient, namastè.

2 hours ago, Lyssa said:

This is awesome, I love if the design supports the poem and gives iconographic hints. Great work! Thank you for sharing. Lyssa 🙂

Thank you for reading this, and for your response. I enjoyed the ebb and flow of this poem, almost like it was breathing. 

1 hour ago, Headstall said:

Oh, man... this is one of my all-time favorites of yours, and that's saying something. I got totally lost in the writer's memory, nostalgic for those times in my life. Trees were magical to me, an escape from reality, and made better when shared with a friend. I always wanted to live in one... still do. 

 

Thanks for taking me back... I think it's time to walk in my woods with Cookie.   ... and congratulations once more, Signature Author! 

 

 

I love the forest and the trees, and especially those places where one emerges and can see out from under the canopy. Thanks for reading this, and for your response. 

1 hour ago, AC Benus said:

Immediately came to mind was the coming of age, boys-in-love novel A Separate Peace. They boys there have their own tree where they can leave behind the trapping of the world, mostly. 

 

This is a striking poem, both visually and emotionally  

I also thought of that novel you mentioned. Their tree plays a pivotal role in that story. I owe you many thanks for your help in making this stronger. I’m very grateful. 

46 minutes ago, dughlas said:

A time when boys climbed trees ... children don't do that as much anymore. To much fear of falling, of getting hurt ... how does one live life without falling, without getting hurt?

This was magnificient, namastè.

No, boys don’t climb trees as much as they once did. There are real reasons to fear injury, but there’s a notable decline in boys knowing how to have fun in the outdoors. Yet there is an enchantment to the heights one can climb to that will call a few...  Thanks again for reading, and for your thoughts. 

@dughlas and @Parker Owens pardon me, but be assured, that my kids both (boy and girl) climb on trees regularly, as well do my students at school. (Some might say, they saw their teacher in the tree with them 😉 )We have a big school yard, with lots of trees even the school is located in an area of Berlin-Gropiusstadt where a lot of skyscrapers are standing. All I wanted to say, there is hope. Lots of hugs. 🙂

9 hours ago, Parker Owens said:

It's melancholy, in a reminiscent kind of way. But hope, even carried on old bones, is better than none at all. Thank you for your thoughts, and for reading.

I used to climb trees half a century and more ago (and fell out more than once). Your verse brought back memories of the fun. Alas I never had a friend to share  the excitement and who might have moved me to scribe my own runes. I would probably have been too naive to recognise the emotions for what they were even if I had had that special friend.

I find the quiet melancholy often in your work speaks to me. A sadness but without rancour. Like taking an autumn walk in woods and kicking your shoes through brown fallen leaves, knowing the coldness of winter approaches but remembering being able to enjoy the warm days of summer even though you have no one to share them with.

This needs to be read at a quiet place again and again.

6 hours ago, Lyssa said:

@dughlas and @Parker Owens pardon me, but be assured, that my kids both (boy and girl) climb on trees regularly, as well do my students at school. (Some might say, they saw their teacher in the tree with them 😉 )We have a big school yard, with lots of trees even the school is located in an area of Berlin-Gropiusstadt where a lot of skyscrapers are standing. All I wanted to say, there is hope. Lots of hugs. 🙂

I rejoice in what you tell me. There is hope, indeed! Thank you.

4 hours ago, Pedro1954 said:

 

I used to climb trees half a century and more ago (and fell out more than once). Your verse brought back memories of the fun. Alas I never had a friend to share  the excitement and who might have moved me to scribe my own runes. I would probably have been too naive to recognise the emotions for what they were even if I had had that special friend.

 

I find the quiet melancholy often in your work speaks to me. A sadness but without rancour. Like taking an autumn walk in woods and kicking your shoes through brown fallen leaves, knowing the coldness of winter approaches but remembering being able to enjoy the warm days of summer even though you have no one to share them with.

 

 

 

 

You express perfectly the tone I hoped to convey. Thank you for taking time to read and to comment. 

2 hours ago, aditus said:

This needs to be read at a quiet place again and again.

Adi, I’m very grateful for what you said, and that you read this. 

Too scared of falling I never climbed trees but always envied those who did and were out of reach, so far above, so away, so much higher up... Now I know better what I envied them for... beautifully captured moments in the past and now, too. I love how you fill those words with so much meaning - separate limbs, advanced seasons - how you capture the promise of youth, of an endless, open future, and how you come back to earth in the end... Thank you.

1 hour ago, mayday said:

Too scared of falling I never climbed trees but always envied those who did and were out of reach, so far above, so away, so much higher up... Now I know better what I envied them for... beautifully captured moments in the past and now, too. I love how you fill those words with so much meaning - separate limbs, advanced seasons - how you capture the promise of youth, of an endless, open future, and how you come back to earth in the end... Thank you.

I’m very grateful you read this, and glad it connected with you. Climbing trees can be exhilarating, and sharing the experience unforgettable. Thanks so much for your comments. 

I love that you describe this piece as a cityscape poem. This sylvan landscape you conjure has no place in most cities. Trees see so much of our existence and often outlast us by centuries. I'm one of those who's never climbed one, but then we can't all be perfect. 

25 minutes ago, northie said:

I love that you describe this piece as a cityscape poem. This sylvan landscape you conjure has no place in most cities. Trees see so much of our existence and often outlast us by centuries. I'm one of those who's never climbed one, but then we can't all be perfect. 

 

You point out the irony in this, and it was assuredly unintentional. Still, there is something to be shared in a favorite tree, whether one climbs or not. You’re very kind to read and comment on this. Thank you!