The Imaginary Garden with Real Toads brings us Poetry as Insurgent Art in the vein of Ferlinghetti. I wanted to participate.
Stumps line the rim of the ditch
Stumps line the rim of the ditch
cut down in their youth,
as a tree's life goes.
as a tree's life goes.
Roots full of life with a reach
wider than their whacked-off crowns
have nothing now to feed, cut off at the knees.
The parked bulldozer with its claws in the dirt
is poised to make smooth the way of man.
But saplings spring stubbornly from
stumps left alone. The tree remembers.
(The painting is oil and acrylic on canvas by Lawrence Ferlinghetti)
The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.
- Chinese proverb
18 comments:
Enjoyed.
So sad. The arrogance of man…
Had me wanting to take a walk just beyond the neighborhood.
Hi Tony!
I just finished reading The Overstory and it made me want to plant a tree. Thanks!
The tree remembers... oh so well said!
I loved this tale of resilience — it's wonderful to know that nature prevails over the trivialities of humans. "The tree remembers" is a perfect closing.
Also, your link was broken; so I have edited it and added the correct url. :-)
Such a stellar closing on this one!❤️
How I love "The tree remembers." Way too many stumps happening here on the Island, where old growth instead of being protected is being mown down. Even in my tiny village, where a million tourists come to enjoy our forests, trees are coming down left and right. It drives me over the edge, as our rainforest climate has turned warmer and drier with every year. I think the forest must be traumatized and weeping by now.
the tree remembers. Long after we are gone, I think the trees will remember us as clumsy murderous oafs.
I think that humans forget on purpose, because it is not convenient to the standard of lifestyle we have created from thin air. A tree is a worthy symbol of memory and longevity. You have painted quite a social comment with this one!!
Rajani,
Thank you!
Ha,
Thanks. And thanks for fixing my link.
Sanaa,
Thank you so much.
Sherry,
It's true, trees communicate and they are all weeping like willows. I was shocked at the clear cutting I saw on a recent visit to Oregon. And much of it on National Forest Land. I was ignorant before, thinking that afforded some small measure of protection.
Toni,
If they remember us at all. Thanks for commenting.
Heretomost,
Thank you! They're cutting down trees that are hundreds of years old and replanting saplings and calling it even. How about using some 3rd of 4th-year growth for our matches and pencils?
So sad but true, and it was ever thus.its wonderful to see the forest trying to reestablish, but it will take years! Well said :-)
Thank God the tree remembers. We destroy to bring progress.
Well said, Yvonne. Do you remember the "Big Yellow Taxi" song, aka as "Put up a parking lot." I read the lyrics every now in then to make sure I'm still in tune.
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well turned, Yvonne ~
I love trees and tree poems and this one packs a punch, Yvonne! Trees most definitely remember and they pass their memories and thoughts on to other trees through their root systems. Hurrah for the sapling!
Gotta love Ferlinghetti! And I love your poem too.
Ellecee,
Yes, years but they'll be here long after we are gone. Thank you for commenting.
Susie,
Yeah..."progress". What a two-pronged word. Thanks!
Jim,
Of course I do! "We don't know what we've got til it's gone." I used to have the Court and Spark album. She was one of our greatest protest singers of the sixties. Thanks.
Grapeling,
Thank you.
Kim,
Yeah, after reading The Overstory I will always cheer them on. Thank you.
Rosemary,
Thank you so much. I think he should be required reading in high school.
Indeed... poetry is the hope that something will grow... and every stump also has its root.
I love that bit of resistance at the end.
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