Enduring

Time and time again, I survived; only to be felled by you.

Shriveled arms shovel

themselves in the earth

from which they came;

searching for the faintest

trace of necessities to

drain while relying on

the rain to water my

foundation. Weeping

as my browning leaves

fall one by one, underneath

the glimmering sun

containing every inkle

of hope I can spare;

only to set and fall

over a vanishing horizon.

I've been hollowed out by

rodents and frozen by

cold winds; scarred with

permafrost blazing in

droughted soil:

shredding crumpled leaves

without a raindrop to boil;

sizzled by the very sun

that once served as an

idol to my well-being;

slowly fleeting as

vines coil around my structure;

absorbing what little

energy remains within me.

Time and time again I

endured the fifty shades

of spring and fall;

sleet and winter, drought

and summer; I've bade through

them all: how in God's name

have I been ended not by

the disasters of mother nature;

but rather felled by the

hands of a bearded man's blade?

Author's Note

Well; I'm positive I don't like this.
Photo courtesy of rodulfo on Deviant Art.

Reviews

[Caradoc]

Excellent use of personification.

You paint a story of grim pride here. The tree has weathered all, only to be taken down by a man. If the things of the earth could speak and be understood by men one can just imagine the things that they would say. How many sons and daughters have we slain to provide food for our tables and shelter for our bodies? How many more have we slaughtered for our petty luxuries or simply because we could?

This would be a nice piece to be featured on Earth Day.

I really like every line. You put yourself in the shoes of something most people pass by every day and pay no heed to.

Bravo.

-Caradoc

[Tai Ryens]

In response, I have but one thing to say. How would we ever be able to endure the insults spewed by the material world (which whispers to those willing to hear it), when we cannot even understand the cruelty spoken by the people who CAN speak? Take South Africa for instance; the poor souls residing there were, possible even up to date, sold by their own government as slaves to other nations in attempt to satisfy their greed. Who can imagine what atrocities we would have to deal with had the material world been able to speak, let alone scream?

[Caradoc]

I imagine we would deal with it much the same as we do now. Some would attempt to make up for old hurts and wrongs done. Some would go on as nothing at all were amiss. And still some would be driven mad by the horror.

[Tai Ryens]

As with the Christian Crusaders, who had ventured into Muslim territory and slaughtered them in attempts to right the world and rid them of their 'false' preaching of the Koran (spelling?) and their Allah; when most of them barely lifted a finger in return to their invasion.

[Caradoc]

Indeed. Ever have men found reasons for war.

[Summer D.]

Qur'an! And it's not "Our Allah" either. It's all one god. Allah, lovely, just means God in Arabic. Arabic is just a language which is NOT limited to Muslims. Arab Christians use the term as well :"D It's just like saying Bonjour, Ola, etc.

But. :) I like what you said.
Arigatou~ :"D

[Summer D.]

*It's all referring to one God.