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.

[zombiikillah666]

so long...so good...so filled with images i can see...i really like it....makes me feel good. (:

[Mike Espinosa]

This is a pretty interesting poem. You told a great story, and used it as a metaphor seamlessly. My only suggestion is to put in punctuation. I only suggest this because you used punctuation a few times already. Overall, very cool poem.

[deeps]

I can feel the emotion in this. I love the nature I can feel this write.

[Doreen]

As a lover of nature, especially trees, I can feel your sadness at losing this particular tree. This reminds me of one of my favorite children's stories - The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein.

[Samuel Dickens]

I don't think it's unusual for us to think of trees, especially old trees, as much more than a large plant. They have spirits and personalities. They live long and see much.

[Miss Coral]

I really liked this... I love trees, and find them amazing in every way. I love writing about them. :)

I especially liked the "it has only one beginning but many ends". Beautiful piece, and I see no logical mistakes.

[Ruth]

Speechless! I can not begin to disect this love! This is amazing poetry, the process of the decay of the tree's life with the esscence of you in there - observing, goodness!
This is haunting Ishan, seriously good poetry! xx