Roots

(honey fungus is a b*****d killer)

in the aftermath of a restless night

i a late riser was disturbed

not by a shaft of sunlight

streaming through a rain splattered

window pane in my sloping roof

nor by the sub song of a blackbird

singing to himself nearby

i sleepy eyed was wakened suddenly

by sounds of a tree surgeon's loud

chainsaw with its sharp cutting teeth

working through limbs of a walnut tree

from a platform of hydraulic horror

i watched its agony as its wood

was systematically carved apart

while the heart of me was felled

a final farewell where once stood

fruit bearing twin majestic friends

my eyes watered as i witnessed

an end of what used to be

a sad demise of a tree on

the outer boundaries of my garden

pardon me for my sentimentality

left grieving for elders

whose backbone and leafy green

for forty years has watched

faithfully and overseen

yes overseen my roots and

the growth of me

 

Reviews

[barleygirl]

I hear ya! My mom married a guy & moved into his house, then promptly cut down all the big beautiful trees in a climate where shade makes all the difference in summer! I was aghast! I never criticized her, because that is not my way, but I felt it was an abomination for her to do that to a piece of property this guy had owned for 50 years! Oh well! He adored her & had no ill feelings! The best poems, like yours, conjure such vivid scenes in the readers minds & hearts (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Margie for sharing. To cut living trees down is a no no in my opinion, unless they are dangerous. The walnut trees had died as a result of disease, so it was easier to see them go. Like losing old friends though. And the loss of walnuts, oh yes will miss them muchly. Always appreciate your thoughts on my ramblings.

Chris

[Pradnya]

Christine,

you just portrayed it so right.cutting a tree really feels like cutting your heart out. feels so bad. thanks for sharing such a lovely piece of work.

Pradnya

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Pradnya, I think you must be a tree hugger like me. Thank you so much for your valued thoughts.

Chris

[Moonie]

I really like the twist of perspective at the end...winds up this beautifully emotive piece well. There are times when inanimate objects become so deeply involved in our lives, that it is quite impossible to let them go. It's not the materialistic value, but the sentiment that they invoke in us that makes it so difficult to forget them. This poem conjured up that powerful feeling of mourning felt over the loss of a valued artifact quite well.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much for reviewing Roots. I appreciate your time and words. All good wishes.
read moreThank you so much for reviewing Roots. I appreciate your time and words. All good wishes.

Chris

[Jimmy Yetts]

Empathy and a sense of continuity characterize this poignant piece.
Trees, those silent, pulpy witnesses to history, often go unnoticed.
You noticed, Chris--eloquently.

[Chris Shaw]

Love old trees Jimmy. Find them fascinating. Thank you for your pleasing review.

Chris

[Robert Trakofler]

When the city tree butchers come to my block in front of my store they always pass my two trees:) the first year they came by I went absolutely bonkers I took a picture of one of the trees they carved and posted it everywhere it pissed me off to no end I called the mayor and the city councilmen and I am sure they were told to avoid roberts trees LOL on the main drag in my neighborhood they tore down all of the trees to put up these stupid looking lantern poles with hanging baskets that cost 50k a piece and so many of us got pissed off they ended up replanting trees what a waste of resources! thats was after I wrote an editorial about the city of pittsburgh's tree plague in the local neighborhood paper making fun of the local business community council and all of the sudden trees started getting replanted oh dear Chris don't get me started about trees I could go on for another 50 lines about trees:) by the way tree fungus is awful we have had a few issues with that over the years I hope they replanted some new trees to replace your lost friends

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Bunny, I just knew you would be a tree hugger so well done you for kicking up a stink with the powers that be. What a waste to fell trees and replace them with poles. I'm not sure that there will be new planting where I am because once that honey fungus is in the ground, it stays there and even when the tree is gone, the fungus comes back. It is deadly. Will just have my memories. I am hoping it doesn't wipe out any others. As far as I know it just attacks fruit trees, so the conifers and silver birches in my garden should be OK. We have lost a damson and a cherry tree sadly. You make sure your two trees stay just where they are. All good wishes from across the pond.

Chris

[Relic]

I watched as they took my whole block full of trees, so to say I can relate to this would be an understatement. We used to have cardinals, blue jays and many other species of birds that would sit in the tree next to my bedroom window that would softly wake me in the morning. Now, they're all gone. The trees I loved were replaced by houses. I still dream of what used to be.

Great poem Chris.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Tim. What a loss you suffered there, particularly as so many trees were felled and replaced by housing. Yes, you miss the wildlife as well as the loss and beauty of the tree. Really appreciate your visit and your understanding.

Chris

[gram linski]

Great sentiment Chris, aye must be hard watching part of the scenery getting felled almost like losing a favourite old uncle who doesn't say much but is wise beyond years,

[Chris Shaw]

Aye it's never easy seeing old friends felled even if they are diseased. Will miss the walnuts. Thanks gram.

Chris

[Einstein Noodle]

so emotive ... Walnut trees are pretty special ... the wood is so rich and dark by nature .. hard as nails .. one of my uncles had one growing in his back yard for about 80+ yrs. and it too reached a point it had to be cut down. :( you said goodbye to a blessed friend .. the tribute to your tree and sadness comes across ... i feel it ... i especially appreciate the twist in closing .. would never have come to that perspective on me own ... i love trees .. truly do .. but always think of myself as the steward over them .. but the life force and protection they offer is so much more strong and enduring .. my first read this morning .. and a good one! thanks so much for sharing!
E.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Mr E for your lovely review. Pleased you enjoyed the read and thank you for sharing your thoughts.

Chris

[Einstein Noodle]

my trees love me ..what an enchantment :)))))))))))))

[Fran Marie]

we humans.can form
such strong and endearing
attachments to just about
anything..and trees especially
those standing sentry over looking
us.. as we grow to love their
presence your words are
affectionately caring for
that loss...

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Fran-Marie. Yes I have a strong affinity with trees. Never easy saying goodbye to them. Always good to see you.

Chris

[NotUsinganymore]

Very sad poem. My wife once had a apple tree she grew from the seed when she was young but when she was older a bunch of high school boys trashed the garden and tore up the tree for laughs. She cried for days over it.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you JungLee for reviewing and also sharing your wife:s story. All good wishes.

Chris

[NotUsinganymore]

Thank you1

[Eilis]

What I like about this poem is the way it not only shows the loss of some piece of the landscape, but also how closely we tend to connect those things growing around us with ourselves. The tree as guardian and playmate. The woman and the tree growing roots together. That's a beautiful aspect of the poem, Chris.

I'm lucky to live in an area where old trees are treasured and rarely cut down unless they are a danger to some surrounding area. Even dead trees are often left to themselves to feed the earth and provide housing for wildlife until they eventually fall themselves.

It's always hard to see when someone else doesn't regard the sanctity of life in the same ways as we do. The trees being such an important aspect of the planet's health but seemingly so easily discarded when they don't fit into a scheme--for whatever reason.

It's a shame to hear you've lost a treasured tree. This is a fine poem, however, that offers a great view of the different facets of nature and our interaction with it. And how closely we can grow together.

[Chris Shaw]

I love your thoughts here Eilis. Thank you so much. This tree was diseased but it was still a wrench to see it felled. All those years on the outside perimeter of our garden providing us with walnuts. Yes it will be missed.

Chris