Two Be One

The pair go 2 heaven in 'The Grave Tree' part 7

A dead Russian is sings songs in a grave
Buried under a tree trying to save
His rooted lost soul
In a dirty hole
Out of tune, so it was his life he gave.

A root ball tossed and turned
Passed back and forth in time
Through earth that lived roots churned
Chewing flesh and bone till fine
Like ash they became burned
The blood nourishing wine
And flesh melted wood wormed
By years all wrapped in twine
Like strings of rings life learned
Stones on graves by design
Will see trees that yearned
To be mountainous pine
Growing graves unconcerned
Russian dead living fine!

(What the hell, how 'bout a joke to boot...)

knock knock
Who's there?
Your grave
Your grave who?
Your grave who gave your boots roots!

2022

Author's Note

A limerick and epigram. For those who are keeping track here's where I am with cutting facets of the same gem....

Free verse
Haiku
Senryu
Tanka
Cinquain
Villanelle
Acrostic
Pantoum
Limerick
Epigram
I'm rewriting the sonnet so it is a proper sonnet and started on the ballade. Might call it good there unless you have a suggestion for a form I haven't done yet.

Reviews

[lightsong]

AND THANK YOU FOR THE JOKE AT THE END! or else I would?! ok let us say I don't like the "creepy disgusting death thing" without humor :> I believe death isn't ugly but beautiful as we return home and oh... there is no real death :> anyway. the image I had is a solider at a battlefield, feeling his life, his body, his souls is wasted for nothing, of course your romantic pen of how to be romantically in a relationship as "two be one" is romantically creepy well described. But why he is a Russian? can't be he anybody? Mr. Billigami? an answer please?

[William Michael Reeves]

I like questions. Thank you. I took a picture of the grave that all these 10 poems are about. It looks like 2 people are buried in the plot. The writing is all in Russian and I can't quite tell but I'll assume it's a couple. The cross on top of the stone is Russian Orthodox. Poetic serendipity when your subject just happens to coincide with current events. The title is part of the series. Taking the title of the original poem and creating all the facets of form and twisting parts of it. This is 'Two' poems, plus the joke, about the tree and grave becoming 'One'. Hope that all makes sense?

[lightsong]

Yes makes all the sense Thank You :> I love the idea that they are a couple, their love is buried with them YET grows with the trees.

[John the Baptist]

Well, you certainly are a versatile poet. There is a loose thread connecting all three parts of this offering, and that thread is called death. We don't know if the Russian was killed in Ukraine, but it doesn't matter. A possible theme is that death unites men with the earth from which they sprang. Not really that bad, evidently. The dead Russian seems to be "living fine."

[William Michael Reeves]

Can't remember if you read many of the others in this series. Based on the original poem 'Forever To Be As one'. In the notes I mention the grave happened to be Russian Orthodox by coincidence it became a current event. I like it when chance creates poetic serendipity. Thanks John.

[KAREN]

Very deep and dark read! I loved the word play and boy that ending is awesome.

[William Michael Reeves]

You like a little knock knock heh? Dark humor for the series. I took a picture of the grave yesterday. Gotta figure out how to resize pics so I can post it. Frustrating the site won't let me post regular pics I take with my phone. I heard they might be too big but cropping them doesn't work. Figure it out somehow. Thanks Karen

[KAREN]

You're very welcome!

[knighngale]

wow, treachury in deceit, love it, I laugh because you are sinister, twisted, love that great read hon, :D

[William Michael Reeves]

Thanks D. I like that you spotted the twisted sinister aspect of these. The original poem these are based on and the 10 I've written based on it are kind of a sinister horror show. As I contemplated the roots of the tree displacing the body they grew into at that gravesite it kind of gave me the creeps. And what else does a poet do when he gets the creeps? Write it! Read you soon.

Bill

[knighngale]

wow, Bill (William) I enjoyed it very much and the more sinister and creep, I love, passionately, :D

[JE Falcon]

Sorry, I don't get these, maybe because I'm old, maybe because I'm stuck in my kind of flow. So I'll give you two thumbs up for construction, and another one thumb for the joke, then I'll stay ignorant for the rest of my days. :)

[William Michael Reeves]

You didn't get it because they are based on the original Grave Tree poem. Start with 'Forever As One They Will Be'. And read Jay G's review if it. My response is to rewrite the poem in many forms. Reworking the sonnet and pantoum for meter and about to write the ballade. It will make sense then

[JE Falcon]

We'll give it a try, thanks.

[Aluppi Jampur]

Very thought provoking, William.
I don't read it as a commentary on our current political environment but it does call to might what's happening.

[William Michael Reeves]

Write! Poetic serendipity. Writing of one subject and by chance it relates to current events. The dead Russian in the original poem for this series I wrote is probably turning over in his orthodox grave! Thanks Chrome. I'll check out your reflections soon!

Bill

[W. Barrett Munn]

My suggestion: avoid the passive voice for more intimacy. “A dead Russian is singing” describes; “A dead Russian sings” puts you there, hearing Moscow Nights

[William Michael Reeves]

That is an excellent suggestion. I read just what you mean. I was counting syllables. I might go with sings songs. Thank you!

[W. Barrett Munn]

I’m glad you took my comment as the positive it intended to be.

[William Michael Reeves]

Of course. And hope to get more of that from you. I'll be editing soon. Hard to keep up in the cafe!

[Sami Khalil]

I feel sorry for soldiers who were forced to fight an immoral war, an evil war that they don't believe in it or want to participate within. They probably have no choice for they will be considered traitors and killed. Sad situation. This was so worthy of a good poetic take on our current situation in the world.
I hope your knocks will be answered by heaven above.

[William Michael Reeves]

Thanks Sami. The Russian aspect to this, and the other poems in the 'Grave Tree' series, is a coincidence The grave I observed just happened to be Russian Orthodox. But I really like that by chance the subject is current. Poetic serendipity?

[Sami Khalil]

I agree. You are welcome.

[Cherrie Palmer]

The grave always thinks he has the last laugh.

[William Michael Reeves]

Well put, Cherrie. I think that was s funny you just made.

[Betty Hermelee]

I'm not counting!!! This is similar to your last poem about life and death mentioning nature's nourishment to save man and the planet.....in this case a Russian soldier is buried... he might have been thrown there alive... anyway the singing is a way of showing whomever dropped him there that the tree may be nourishing him and keeping him alive (all this coming out of my head) ....hence he and the tree become entwined over time; this showing the Russian leader, that he can throw as many as he wants, and the graves may wither, but the tree will protect and nourish him and others...well done w!
Best B.

[William Michael Reeves]

Your review is so true! And I thank ye kindly Betty. What you are noticing is intentional. All of these last poems are based on the original free verse poem I wrote. The series is my response to Jay G's review of that poem. At last count I have now cut 10 facets of the same gem and working on 2 more. I think i'll call it good there. Been writing other poems as well. I really like your poetic reviews lately. Thanks!

[Betty Hermelee]

You’re very welcome W.!

[Crowley]

That circle, its why we should be kind to one another, lest someone recognizes our boots in the next life. Great piece!!!

[William Michael Reeves]

A good pair of boots might even be worn. Each generation having to wear the previous generations pair. Some care for the boot better than others. But a good pair of boots should last forever!

Thanks Crowly.