The Seedling

One night while I was dreaming,

A tree grew in my mind.

Though little but a seedling,

I took refuge in its pines.

 

On the morrow, cold and dreary, whilst walking through my thoughts,

My eyes stuck on a seedling, so I walked towards its lot.

Then my thoughts were thinking, "how strange, this could not be...

For I am in a city, yet this seedling grows on green!"

But O, I looked around me. I looked upon an open field!

Its as if my thoughts were running, through a mystery revealed.

I found my sanctuary, in the field my mind had found.

I took refuge in it's flowers, and the seedling's soothing sound.

I would visit this place often, the depths of thought and seed.

My thoughts had learned to think, and in those thoughts was peace.

 

 

That evening walking home, through the city, from the dreaming;

I felt like I was leaving from; my home, the field, the seedling.

I felt as if this city bound me, that I may never soar.

When a raven perched upon a bush, whispered to me, "nevermore".

 

--- 

 

That night I was the dreamer,

The tree grew more and more.

Its leaves forever greener,

Echo "nevermore".

 

Again whilst I was dreaming, I walked into the field,

The seedling now a gentle tree, a mystery revealed.

I slept upon its branches, and ate its fruit with ease.

I marveled in its aura, I listened to its leaves;

And then I knew the mystery, that had been revealed.

For it was in the leaves, and it was in the field.

As long as I was with them, I was as carefree as the breeze.

Nourished by their scent, I could live among the trees.

 

Now conscious, walking through the city, I took asylum in the thoughts.

I could not stay within this city, I needn't live for naught.

So in my mind, I left the city, went to the field where I could soar.

For now I understood, the city bound me nevermore;

And when I made this realization, the tree grew towards the sky.

Now a mighty fortress, and a beauty to the eye.

 

So now I walk the city, with conscious thought and word.

From my mighty fortress, leaves echoing the bird.

And in this sweet asylum, in this sacred lore;

There is a sweet raven, whisp'ring "nevermore"!

Author's Note

i meant for it to resemble "the raven" by edgar allen poe

i wrote this as kind of a tribute to that poem, but with enough originality to be my own you know :)

and i know that it does not fully make sense if you are thinking of it in a literal sense (seedlings dont have pines, nor would a tree that had pines have edible fruit); but this poem takes place in a dream and is meant as an escape from reality, so i did not feel the need to make it "accurate"

Reviews

[Fran Marie]

So now I walk the city, with conscious thought and word.

From my mighty fortress, leaves echoing the bird.

And in this sweet asylum, in this sacred lore;

There is a sweet raven, whisp'ring "nevermore"!



The indepth beauty of this poem just blows me away, John, indeed, very `Poeque` in its lovely poetic verse~am loving the seedling dream concept ofgrowing/ escaping into an enchanting forest/field feeling the surreal freedom from the stifleling reality of the city~Stunning Peice of Work!

[Nicole Rivera]

I found your poem tonight in the strangest of internet coincidences. I was on a quest for an image of a seedling to include in my blog post about my "blogiversary". You see, my first ever post was entitled "A Seed Was Planted..." and I feel as though, in the past year it has just barely begun to grow.

However, when I stumbled across this poem I was struck by its beauty and relevance to my current position. First of all: I LOVE POE! As soon as my eyes danced across the word "nevermore" I instantly caught my breathe. But even before that, you had spoken my most inner thoughts with this:

I found my sanctuary, in the field my mind had found.
I took refuge in it's flowers, and the seedling's soothing sound.
I would visit this place often, the depths of thought and seed.
My thoughts had learned to think, and in those thoughts was peace.

I, too, live in the city, but it is not the ONLY thing that binds me. I also have a chronic illness. In my writing of my blog(s) which is "the field my mind has found", I HAVE FOUND MY SANCTUARY.

Really... tears are welling up into my eyes as I type this.

You wrote this poem two years ago and I see it is a contest winner, but for me, it has found the reason for its grand design right now.

Thank you.

I shared it with my readers, along with links back to here and your list of writings, along with your copyright. I hope it grows your readership.

[EMP]

okay... I LOVE this. partly because the raven is my most favourite poem ever but mainly because your words are so powerful.. again! this is a truly brilliant poem, the rhythm is gentle and flows and it's just such a lovely poem that I will read again because I enjoyed it so much. Really good poem :) *adds to favourites*

[Ally Baker]

great poem, loved noticing the reference to Poe's "The Raven"

[Salvatore Buttaci]

Congratulations on winning the jumbled contest!

[Nancy Lee Shrader]

Congrats a fourth time on your great winning poem!

[Chloe..Across the Unive..]

to me poems aren't meant or do not have to be as you say, 'accurate'
poems are somewhat like our inner selves
i like the play on one of the best poems ever, The Raven and your use of old world English.. sometimes
i wish we still spoke that way..
a beautiful poem with such meaning and your last line to me is brillant ..lovely.

your poems are pure and a pleasure.. thank you.
chloe

[Ellen Hammond]

You are gifted indeed. Very Poe-ish. The style, rhyme, and flow are great. As for the pine with leaves and fruit, I see it as symbolic not a biology lesson. And the flowers, I took as being in the field, not on the pine tree itself. I have had dreams that are as strange or stranger when I felt trapped and my mind craved freedom. Great job!

[Tanya]

This is very nice. I love how you're not literal about things, but if you really pay attention you get what you're truly wanting to convey. I love the rhyming, i myself can't do it very well, but you're amazing at it. It doesn't feel forced in the least. I love how you use "soar" and "nevermore" very often without it clashing. i feel dump when i use two words twice to rhyme, but you did great at it. Full of imagery, lovely diction, and it flows with great magnificence. great job, i look forward to reading more.

[Nancy Lee Shrader]

Third time is the charm! Congrats on your great winning Poem!

[Frances O'Neill]

I loved the poem from start to finish. I like the shapes and alterations of sizes of stanzas. Good work!