Dead Oak Tree..

There can be a strange beauty in death..

It stood alone, as if an outcast from the nearby woods. How did it get there? You could tell it once was a mighty Oak tree, like the many that still stood tall and alive nearby. Once it's great limbs held a massive amount of lush green leaves. Now, it's limbs looked brittle and barren, void of any life. Many of it's limbs laid at it's base, like markers to a grave.

I found myself fixated on this one solitary tree, bypassing the natural beauty of the forest with it's thick green foliage. I was looking at a dead tree...a dead tree that was magnificent in death. In the background were fields of fruitful corn, and an old weather beaten red barn. It seemed to add to the tree's magnetic attraction.

Of all the natural beauty surrounding it, it occurred to me a painter would only want to capture the lone, breathtaking silhouette of this still massive, but lifeless tree. So I painted with words..

 

i'm gonna be gone someday

what do i want my memory to say

how will life remember me

let me be a dead oak tree

let me stand all alone

gone,but standing on my own

no marker, or stone engraved

let me stand where once i swayed

there's beauty in the shadow of death

a haunting image that takes your breath

to leave behind for all to see

to die in grace, a dead oak tree

let their eyes scan the fields

of stunning woods,and bountiful yields

i want to stand with my shadow cast

against horizons where nothing lasts

i was here, and here i'll be

forever live...the dead oak tree

 

Author's Note

I am still working on this piece..

Reviews

[Bhavya Kaushik]

"There can be a strange beauty in death.." - Yes, I agree...there is always a strange hidden beauty behind not only death but also behind pain, behind tears and behind heartbreaks.
This poem is certainly very different and you succeeded in conveying your message from the idea of a dead oak tree. This is indeed a very thoughtful piece of writing.
It is not at all only about the dead tree or the comparison of your life with the tree but it is widely about the philosophy behind the life of every individual.
Brilliant piece of writing!

[Dani California]

This is incredible! What an awesome use of metaphor. I don't know that I have ever heard death described so wonderfully.... wow.

i want to stand with my shadow cast
against horizons where nothing lasts
i was here, and here i'll be
forever live...the dead oak tree


Absolutely brilliant work!!

[Spoken]

Such a powerful image... your words stand as strong as the dead oak. I really loved this piece... awsome.. sorry, can't think of something intellegent to say at the moment... lol. just blew me away!

[thecoolone52]

woooooooo nice to have you back once again.......... sometimes the dead trees in the forest get more attention cus they stand all beaten up and you wonder hmmm how old is that tree?? Then you gotta keep moving cus all the bugs start climbing out of it hahahahaha.......... nice write i enjoyed it

[Laura E. Aranda]

I love trees and have wrote a few tree poems and stories myself....thanks for asking me to read this one. Continue on! Cheers,lea

[Sincere]

"against horizons where nothing lasts"

Perfect!
Bravo this piece will be famous I am sure of it.

[*** Hey Jude***]

This is a breathtaking piece that touches the heart strings. I loved the thought of using Dead Oak Tree as a description for spectacular seasons of life we go through; and of course in the end death. The metaphors you used gave me the sense that I was watching as you described this scenario. Amazing work my friend I am glad that you are back! ~ Jude :-)

[Nicole (Carpe Diem)]

the piece is amazing... i think a lot of people wonder what their legacy will be once they are gone - will they be remembered and what will that memory be - good - bad - indifferent ...

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

You are so right about the beauty in death for if you look closely you can see the wonderful history, like a old west town, you can walk through and though deserted the essence of it's charm is still there. this piece is a wonderful reflection of the past and how if we embrace it the beauty of life will grow inside us so we can pass it on.

[SM Davis]

wow!!!!!! This reminds me of Shel Silverstein's The Tree. It was my favorite and became my children's favorite with such a powerful message. Just as yours is here. How will I be remembered? What impact have I had on the world? YOU my dear dear friend, have had an enormous impact and the journey of your life has made you one of the most powerful people I know. That's saying a lot because those words do not frequent my lips easily. Very well done!

[Lady Lazarus.]

i want to stand with my shadow cast
against horizons where nothing lasts
i was here, and here i'll be
forever live the dead oak tree


This is and I mean this:
The best poem I've ever read on this website.
remarkable from start to finish.
such a beautiful crafted story and so sweet in a tragic way.
deaths the one thing we all end up experiencing and its our last dance.
will we impress or get an encore?
none knows but the show must go on.