Umbrella

This is a poem I wrote for my favourite part of my childhood journeys to my family in monaghan, the tree that watches over the ruins of slane hill.

 

Umbrella

 

 

Are you a fungus who clings on to your role of past times?

Whether or not you do, that doesn’t matter.

 

Christmas, Halloween, Easter. Birthdays from all year round,

I pass by your place, river of worship. Over a bridge. A bridge.

 

They drive on by, cursing traffic, and scary bulls. I do not.

The innocent child does not recognize these things,

 

Only novelty beliefs, and magic imagination. Of course I

Am no such thing anymore. But I do not forget. Never.

 

I drive my own car now. Every time I descend that hill, cross that bridge,

I always stare up at your powerful stance.

   

It is then every time, that I ask myself, what have you seen?

How many have you sheltered in rain? What animals call you home?

 

Have children played with you? Maybe they still do.  Have

You ever been threatened? Ever bore fruit?

 

Where you ever prayed to? With? For? Slane priests

Gathering around your bow. Moment of pride?

 

Have you ever, then, witnessed the famous fire, that Patrick himself

Lit by your side? I do not know your age, you see.

 

The priory slowly decays. I hope you do not. An everlasting eye

watching over his hill. Waiting. Watching. Waiting.

 

You bear a shroud of mystery, old friend, man can never understand.

But I promise someday I will lie by your side. Someday. I promise.

 

 

 

Reviews

[Eternally Elemental]

Very insightful way to see a tree that everyone seems to pass by obliviously. The world passes by unaware of what a tree has witnessed. People hang themselves on it, they make love under them. Sometimes people are even violated and murdered beside them. They watch creatures grow and raise their young. They see all we fail to REALLY see. Imagine the wisdom they would have if they had intelligent minds. Learning and studying the way the world keeps spinning.

Very original idea. I like the way it was written, it suited the personality of the piece as a whole. This made me think of the tree Methuselah. It has been around for over 4800 years! Absolutely mind blowing. Imagine living for that long. All the generations that have passed in that time and the way the world would have changed. Really amazing.
I thought it was very beautiful the way you acknowledge this tree. If it could think it would never forget anyone, it would never forget you. We all become part of that untold history.

Very beautiful and creative. Very touching piece.