Dying Tree

Read me.

We met while you were in your youth

You observed my boughs and made your choice

But already I was rotting from my core—

Your worst fear that you did not voice

 

I think you knew all along

And pretended not to notice

That inside my bark was a hollow trunk;

Ignoring, you ate your Lotus

 

Eons turned and the stars faded

While you hung from my limb

The joy you had was unsurpassed

Though our future was dim

 

All the while, once so deep,

My roots had begun to recede

And on my many rings of wood

Insatiable termites began to feed

 

I was oft given to ponder

What made our bond so strong

Maybe ‘twas that we were doomed to end

And we knew it all along

 

For you after all my favorite part

Was that lovely ligneous kNOT

That showed only as my skin paled

And fell by the lot

 

And so it was that I fell

And you came to a dead not dying tree

But your tears could not water enough

To give you back me

 

I think you knew all along

That there would come this day

Where you would have to live on

While I would fade away

 

Author's Note

Rhythmically varied. Perhaps a lack of flow? Thoughts.

Reviews

[d. c. smith]

the seemingly random rhythm--whether accidentally or on purpose--supports the seemingly random relationship between you and your lotus-eating counterpart. "have to live on," as in, move on to bigger and better things in life? you're left behind to rot? why didn't the both of you move on to said bigger and better things?

food for the mind.

[brinkley]

I feel like this is "The Giving Tree" for the older set. I think the flow was present and excellent. Nice to hear from you, Nico. :]

[D. Pesek]

this is really good man. The repetition of knowing all along made this poem flow well. The imagery was great too. I look foward to reading more of your writing.

[ABitBrokenPoetry]

"Maybe 'twas that we were doomed to end
And we knew it all along" aren't we all? i love this poem. dark, twisted, vivid imagery. i think it flows well, kudos on rhyming notice & lotus. i really like it as is, & its going in my favorites.