The Old Tree In My College

This is about an old tree in my college, which was mercilessly cut last July.

The Old Tree in My College

 

The old tree in my college was a collage of twigs

And outward growth, nature’s forgotten poem

Which has now dried its roots

In the form of leafless answers

It had only one beginning

But many ends, a web of many  exposures

Although it kept many secrets

 

It reminded me of my mistakes,

And my dispersing intellect

In the form of skyward branches

 

The old tree in my college was a neglected institution

Hence no birds loved it, only I did

And maybe some periodic breezes.

It used to hide the evening in its termite chambers

And caress the morning amidst a dead sunrise

 

The old tree in my college was demolished some months back,

The process began years ago, since the space around it began complaining

It needed to be filled to hide the vacuum between the new and old

 

They cut it with utmost pleasure, two axmen and a coffin for its anatomy

Re-framed the broken branches to cramp them in a huge vehicle

Carried all its well-cut parts to a distant land no one had ever been to

 

The old tree in my college sadly for me

Will never grow back from its memory, only an illusion

Of a branching painting will remain before the ruined Physics

Department which today stands lonely behind it

 

Someday when we all grow old, like this tree

Our friends and sons will make plans about which part of us

To cut and dispose first

And part by part all our life’s work will be displaced

And taken away from our roots

They will cut out our existence from their own

Even the branches won’t be spared

 

Author's Note

I wrote this poem at the same place the tree was cut, and it may contain some logical mistakes. I was seventeen at that time.

Reviews

[Devons]

This is a powerfully-metaphorical and touching poem. The imagery is intense as well as the sadness of transient existence leaving all its traces behind only to be nothing in the end. It displays a wealth of imagination and deep contemplation, bringing its message hard-home to the reader like a residual ancient myth by layers upon layers of a thousand years of lost dreams. There are many very good lines, but, to choose one...

"The old tree in my college was a neglected institution
Hence no birds loved it, only I did
And maybe some periodic breezes."

And I needn't quote the best verse, it is the last, and speaks for itself.

[Christopher.Holmberg]

:) 10/10

[EMW]

This was incredible.

[122009]

This has such amazing descriptions in it.
Excetllant job

[JB Murray]

Wow... another fantastic piece. You rarely disappoint!

[Anicca]

This is again a wonderful piece. It is strange that an inanimate object, such as a tree, took such an emotional hold on you and inspired such brilliance. Nice work.

[Prateeksha Khot]

This is one of the most amazing poems of yours. really really loved it

[GunMetal]

You're one of my favorite writers on this site. You should know that. Because I liked this poem so much, I can't think of anything else to say. The words "beautifully powerful, touching and wonderful", together, are an understatement.

[Annette Jay Sweeney]

I can relate to what you are feeling with this poem. In my philosophy class this semester I used to stare out at this dead tree, with similar thoughts. How strange. You put words to these feelings very well. Congrats on a great write!

[Haifa]

Beautiful and wonderful. Tree, people would think it is something silly to write about but not really silly. Tree could be the friend, it gives us shadow when it is so warm and sunny.. or could be there memories and the tree was there. It is sad they cut that tree. But well done

[B0Beauxs]

You have blown my mind. This poem is absolutely wonderful.

Your use is metaphor is once again so outstanding, and so original, they convey the really simple but powerful message of the poem perfectly.

You should be really proud of this very touching piece.