Sunday’s Whirligig: Wordle #34
http://sundayswhirligig.blogspot.com/
blackbird, tree, pantomime, whirled, whistling, barbaric,
bawds, pierced, moving, snowing, afternoon, rhythms
The Sunday Whirl: Wordle #226
https://sundaywhirl.wordpress.com/
fall, mist, flesh, secret, holy, drift,
hidden, tide, abyss, pass, light, tames
Poets United: Poetry Pantry #279
http://poetryblogroll.blogspot.com/
When The Oak Tree Fell
It didn’t drift in tame movement, didn’t whirl
around in barbaric rhythms of secret holy pantomime
in damping mist of foreign tides. Didn’t stop or still
itself for piercing whistle of winging blackbird.
Just fell straight down, pushed by bawdy wind
on an afternoon that promised snow. Left column
of light where once it provided cooling shade. Broke
and destroyed nothing in its final dive into abyss of death.
Left behind only its flesh to be cut up in chunks for firewood
and a certain soft ache of sadness at its passing.
Elizabeth Crawford 11/22/15
Notes: Sister called two days ago to tell me that the biggest oak in their backyard fell over during the windy afternoon just passed. When I saw the word tree in the two word lists, my mind wouldn’t go any further. I could hear the bit of sadness in her voice, and felt an echo of it inside of me. Used all of the words.
Image is a hand drawn pen and ink zentangle done some time ago.
Soul's Music 
what a way to go…leaving behind a column of light and an aching sadness… I would settle for that.
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You do this sort of thing so well.
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The loss of trees can be emotional..the worst is when hacked down by chainsaws and the sound is harsh and all that growth and being is felled and forgotten..the tree surgeons go back to their van..have lunch..carry on..and the view out the window is never the same..the lines are like wrinkles..part of us..maybe that’s why it hurts? Or maybe it’s because sometimes the world seems to offer up beauty only fleetingly – and love the illustration – zentangling is wonderful…
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Left behind only its flesh to be cut up in chunks for firewood
and a certain soft ache of sadness at its passing
Nostalgic ‘passing’ of a tree that had been through hours of joy for your siblings in years gone by.Tree climbing was certainly a wonderful pastime for the young! Great lines Elizabeth!
Hank
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a very moving ode to a fallen tree – especially liked the line “Broke
and destroyed nothing in its final dive into abyss of death” – adds death of an innocent motif.
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A tree is something that can be so much of yourself.. I still remember autumns when get another gentle giant had fallen… the hawthorn, the silver spruce, the big willow… all of them are memories for me… an oak becoming firewood, a comfort and a warmth but yet a loss.
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How sad … there’s something so sad when an old revered tree falls like this … we lost a great old willow this summer in Riva del Garda … on of the favourite spots where people used to picnic. It really left an empty feeling. A beautiful tribute.
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There is always sadness when a old tree dies. Older than ourselves, parents even grandparents such examples give us a link back to what was, what has been achieved and when the end comes we are reminded strongly of our own mortality. I agree this is a stunning tribute you have written.
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A beautifully written ode in remembrance of the oak tree.
Lots of love,
Sanaa
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A beautifully written ode in remembrance of the oak tree.
Lots of love,
Sanaa
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Oaks are my favorite. Your meaningful poem is too!
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I was devastated right at the title. The enjambment is excellent:
on an afternoon that promised snow. Left column
of light where once it provided cooling shade. Broke
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So sad. I feel your passion through your words.
Visit Keith’s Ramblings!
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Beautiful poem ~ it’s always sad when a tree falls. But it gives back to the earth as it gently lays down to rest.
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So very sad when a tree falls. I can almost feel the pain of this tree as I read your words. And sad that what had once given so much now, even at the end of its time, will give itself totally as firewood. Such an unselfish tree indeed.
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I am a small oak.
Randy
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The passing of a tree is sad…it brings up deep mourning for me…a life so long and precious now gone and it’s still giving in death with wood or rot to fertilizer….beautiful sadness in this poem which I really loved Elizabeth.
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Oh it is sad when a beloved old oak dies. It was kind to fall where it did no damage. It will be missed.
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It is sad when a tree no longer stands, you have written a tribute to the oak. I can feel the sadness in your words.
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Wonderful how you wove in all the words so appropriately to express this sad tale. Great trees leave a gap; they are worth mourning
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I think we relate to trees because they stand straight and tall, remind us of ourselves. Trees seem so wise…who knows if they are? Still we honor them, fall in love with them, and are sorry to see them go. I had a tree fall over onto my roof once, it was very sad, and I always missed that tree, perhaps they just fill an empty spot in our hearts, we don’t know is there, until they are gone.
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Don’t know why this speaks to me on so many levels. To just fall straight, though. To give in to the wind pushing you. And yet to fall with such kindness, not to damage anything in its way. Just, ah. I have no words. Thank you.
I tried to return your visit but couldn’t find a way to leave a response comment. I like the manner in which you wove the words. Thanks for the visit,
Elizabeth
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I always feel great sadness when a tree falls, whether it be naturally or not.
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This is very good.
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