Ugly Old Tree (an Epitaph)

My attempt to rhyme in a whimsical style.

    I’m an ugly old tree

 

The sun won’t shine on me

Winter wind is all that I know.

     My world’s mute as the grave

I’ve no soul left to save

 Roots repose in the frost and in snow.

     Where are the birds in the spring time?

How long have they left me alone?

I haven’t seen blue in a lifetime

The  summer sky I’ve never known.

    

      I’m a lonely old tree

Grown in soil and scree

In the shadow of doom’s barren hill

    I can struggle and try

Stretch out towards the sky

But you see, a tree hasn’t much will

     Where is the life that was promised

When a green sprout poked through the ground

Beyond an unseen horizon it’s setting

With the sun I watch it sink down.

     I’m an angry old tree

Seen what evil can be

From my plot in the devil’s back yard

     Felt he cut of the blade

I’ve heard screams fill the glade

Learned that life is both bloody and hard

     Where are the squirrels and the robins?

The grass and the springtime and rain

Gone with the world of the summer

Faded with joy and with pain.

     I’m a hopeless old tree

Have no pity for me

For I haven’t a drop for myself

     Life is saying goodbye

You’ll grow lonely and die

Or like my love be turned to a shelf.

     Why must we love what is broken

And torture ourselves with our ghosts

Remembering life’s joy, triumph and strife

It’s the soft things that hurt us the most

     

     I’m a pallid old tree

Bleached and faded you see

And my leaves never change with the fall

    Barren sticks are my crown

Empty heavens look down

Do you see me? I’ve no leaves at all.

     Where is the verdant and growing

Where are the sprigs and the seeds

Nothing can grow here, except for the dusk

Not even brambles or weeds

      I’m an ugly old tree

Time is nothing to me

So I planted a seed in the ground

     May he grow green and tall

Standing strong through the squall

While the rest of the world is cut down

    Where are the crows and the June bugs

Someday they’ll nestle in him

For now I will die and curse earth and sky

And the sunshine and blue sky and spring 

                                                Chris Norton 10-25-11

Author's Note

I'm not big on poems that rhyme. This was stuck in my head and needed to come out.

Reviews

[Jennie Baron]

It stuck in my head, too. Breathtakingly beautiful in a sad way and definitely well rhymed. Maybe you didn't intend it that way, but the seed metaphor made me think of having children and a parent's hope that perhaps the world will be better to them or they will make a difference in it.

I'm so grateful to Tia for pointing this one out to me.

[Christopher Norton]

Definitely intended thet way

[Glen Yumang Manese]

Felt he cut of the blade

I’ve heard screams fill the glade

Learned that life is both bloody and hard
---
Felt the cut of the blade

I’ve heard screams fill the glade

Learned that life is both bloody and hard
---

As for this one...its quite a turn from what I'm use to reading of yours...the different themes with trees...and the first and the last stanza -- the ugly old tree --- does not go without a fight...and the rhyme is not bad...it renders in the lines...as for the quoted lines above...I believe it was a typo...with "he" versus "the"...

[Christopher Norton]

Yes. ""THE"

[Glen Yumang Manese]

This was a while back...

[Christopher Norton]

I really need to proof read

[Christopher Norton]

Little balls of cotton got pushed to page 2. Please read rhat, as it is much more "me".

[star73]

I liked it was really deep intense feeling thanks for sharing!

[paul sal.....]

Life can and is often a pain in the a*s but, the hope is our children will find a better way, that would be an accomplishment in and of itself and will most definitely be fostered by the sun,which is abundant most of the time............................great imagery

[Erik Daniel]

Wow. This is one of the most powerful poems I have read on this site. Pat yourself on the back for this one. I don't think this was your intended message, but I really related it to following Christ! So many people grow up not knowing him and then regret their life and feel like they wasted it, but those who truly discover what it means to follow Christ know that this world is not their home. They make every effort to bring people to Christ while they are here and know that they have lived their life to the full. For every man dies, but not every man really lives.

[Madalyn Beck]

You have a gift! I am with you on the rhyming. It doesn't always have to, but here you did a great job. Your words brought this poem to life in a magical way. Tia sen this my way and I can see why! Great work! :)

[ANCIENTRUNAWAY]

My dear, you have a gift of truth and for , such a sinful gift i shall say you are pretty f*****g good at it! At times , we as people feel hopeless even when the sun shines the brightest not knowing why; we are ungrateful and unsatisfied for what we've got. Thank you for opening my eyes, darling.

Keep Calm and Carry On

[Tinkerbellje]

Such a beautiful poem wrought with sadness.

[Frieda P]

Good rhyming, which isn't always my favorite cuppa tea either, but you did such a great rhyming scheme. Love the personification of the tree here, you made it dance and come to life, bittersweet yet strong. Tia sent me, and I'm glad she did, enjoyed.