Home » Poems » Nancy Kaufman » A paper tree

A paper tree

I made a paper tree of grief and
those now gone fill up each leaf..
Their faces, their lives, the people
I hold dear, have shaped it's
branches, year after year..
There isn't a root system to feed
my tree.
It's only sustenance is my memory..

deathmemorytreerhyme

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Ken Rone

February 10, 2024 at 10:04 AM

Nancy: Gosh that's beautiful! Best -Ken

Kim Rodrigues

February 9, 2024 at 6:28 AM

Love that last line! Emotive, dear! Congratulations on POTD!

Nancy Kaufman

February 9, 2024 at 6:42 AM

Hi Ms. Kim, Thanks so much. I really appreciate hearing from so many poets like you out there. God Bless you and have a wonderful day..

Charles Messina

February 9, 2024 at 4:06 AM

This is lovely, Nancy. Congratulations on POTD!

Nancy Kaufman

February 9, 2024 at 6:40 AM

Hi Charles, Your comment is most appreciated. F.y.I. I appreciate the site putting up with my quick musings as I only pen out perhaps one good one annually and don't do contests as I'm not a competitive person. Have a blessed day..

Daisy Meadows

February 8, 2024 at 11:52 PM

A beautiful poem and tribute. Congratulations on your POTD. Well done.

Brandy Nicole

February 8, 2024 at 6:55 PM

Dear Nancy, unconditional love is the root system that feeds your tree. Keeping those precious memories alive. You're holding them so close to your heart. This is tender and emotional, all at the same time. Congratulations on Poem of the Day. My best to you. Hugs, Brandy

Nancy Kaufman

February 9, 2024 at 6:39 AM

Dear Brandy, You have left such sweet words here which are most appreciated. God bless you as well and have a wonderful day. It's sunny here so I'm going to soak up some rays now.

Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart

February 8, 2024 at 12:02 PM

A lovely piece Nancy, it sticks to the soul this one. Congratulations on POTD! xomo

Nancy Kaufman

February 8, 2024 at 12:25 PM

Hey Maureen, How wonderful to hear from you. I do hope the health situation is improving these days. My ex had a serotonin reaction in early January and our brains need extra tlc when healing. I'm very happy to hear from you and thank you for the kind comments.

Sam Kauffman

February 8, 2024 at 11:44 AM

Nancy, congratulations on your POTD with this wonderfully composed poem with its impactful imagery of a fragile tree made of paper. fed by your memories of people you loved now gone. So creative and inspired. There is so much depth in the simplicity of your lines. It's simplicity reminds me of Carl Sandburg's "Fog." So happy to see this as a POTD. Blessings to you!

Nancy Kaufman

February 8, 2024 at 12:24 PM

Dear Sam with the "two f's", thanks for the literary reference and I will definitely check out Carl Sandburg's "Fog" now. I appreciate your comments and blessing to you as well.

Jim Slaughter

February 8, 2024 at 11:05 AM

This is really quite beautiful, Nancy, and well worthy of POTD.

Nancy Kaufman

February 8, 2024 at 12:28 PM

Dear Jim, Thank you so much for your kind words. If I ever am able to write any thing worthy of a second glance, it is generally very early in the am, generally at dawn. Have a blessed day.

Bill Baker

February 8, 2024 at 8:55 AM

Congratulations of this fine poem being awarded the honor of POTD, Nancy! Enjoy your special day of recognition, my friend. Bill

Nancy Kaufman

February 8, 2024 at 12:30 PM

Hi there Texan Bill, I am most appreciative of this honor today and also of the wonderful support on our site. God bless you and Ms. Sara..

R J. Elless

February 8, 2024 at 8:43 AM

Wow, Nancy, that is the proof. If we think of them are never gone. Nothing easy about losing loved ones. Stay creative, a great poem.

Nancy Kaufman

February 9, 2024 at 6:37 AM

Dear R,J., i appreciate your kind words and being acknowledged for this poem yesterday. Thanks for taking the time to comment and have a wonderful day writing away!

Linda Alice Fowler

February 8, 2024 at 7:55 AM

Very nice Nancy - congratulations on the honor of POTD! :)

Nancy Kaufman

February 8, 2024 at 12:31 PM

Thank you so much Linda. It has definitely made my day. Blessings..

Paula Goldsmith

February 8, 2024 at 6:09 AM

Congratulations on your POTD win. Your write "A Paper Tree" is a wonderful yet sad. "Love It" Have a blessed day with your wonderful win.........................

Nancy Kaufman

February 8, 2024 at 12:22 PM

Hi Paula dear, Thank you for returning with your thoughtful comment. We all experience loss at some point in our lives and it clearly resonated with many. Have a blessed day..

Joseph May

February 8, 2024 at 6:06 AM

A poignant write, Very nicely penned, Congrats on POTD

Nancy Kaufman

February 8, 2024 at 12:20 PM

Dear Joseph, Thank you for your lovely comments. They are much appreciated. Have a blessed day.

Regina Elliott

February 8, 2024 at 5:42 AM

Beauteous POTD, Nancy. You've penned so well of bereavement with, " A paper tree." My Congratulations, enjoy your POTD day. ~

Nancy Kaufman

February 8, 2024 at 6:00 AM

Hi Regina, Thank you so much and it is always a pleasure to hear from you as well as so many other supportive poets out there. Blessings

Daniel Henry Rodgers

February 8, 2024 at 5:17 AM

Dear, Nancy, Congrats, POTD! The thought of a tree constructed from grief, its leaves filled with the faces of loved ones lost, is incredibly powerful. You capture the raw emotions of loss and longing with simple yet evocative language, seeing how the enduring impact those we cherish leave on our lives. The absence of roots for the tree, speaks to the fragile yet powerful nature of remembrance, how our loved ones continue to exist within us even after they are gone. - Blessings, Daniel

Nancy Kaufman

February 8, 2024 at 5:59 AM

HI Daniel, Your kind words and sentiments are much appreciated. I feel very honored to have been selected for this recognition. Blessings to you dear poet as well

Jerry Brotherton

February 8, 2024 at 4:50 AM

Congratulations on your POTD. Such wonderful lines 'There isn't a root system to feed my tree. It's only sustenance is my memory..

Nancy Kaufman

February 8, 2024 at 5:56 AM

thanks Jerry. Your words are much appreciated.

Vijay Pandit

February 8, 2024 at 4:37 AM

Back with BIG congrats on POTD, Nancy. Glad to see you in this space. Enjoy your special day, today.

Nancy Kaufman

February 8, 2024 at 5:56 AM

Dear Vijay, It is a special day with such a super surprise in it. Thank you for your kind thoughts. May God bless you and all of the other sweet poets out there.

Christina Bowring

February 8, 2024 at 4:35 AM

Dear Nancy, many congratulations with a very worthy POTD. This is so beautiful and you are a talented, beautiful poet! Such a tender, touching write that we can all resonate with. Such a unique idea to have a paper tree full of cherished memories of those gone that were truly loved but never forgotten. Your little paper tree is a tree of life that has shaped your own life. Have a wonderful, celebratory day that you deserve. Hugs and blessings xx

Paulette Calasibetta

February 8, 2024 at 4:18 AM

Congratulations on your well deserved POTD! You touch our hearts with your poetic words we all can relate to. Who hasn't lost someone, who hasn't held their memory and cherished it? Well done! Kudos! Paulette

Mike Gentile

February 8, 2024 at 3:59 AM

Your poetic portrait of loss and grief is very poignant Nancy and moved me greatly. Congratulations on your POTD honors!!

Nancy Kaufman

February 8, 2024 at 4:16 AM

Dear Mike, Thank you so much. This was my 5th poem honored as POTD on the site and with such stiff competition out there I am humbled and extremely appreciative. Have a blessed day.

Tania Kitchin

February 8, 2024 at 3:41 AM

Nancy, wonderfully penned, congratulations on POTD.

Nancy Kaufman

February 8, 2024 at 4:14 AM

Hi Ms. Tania, Thank you for you acknowledgement and have a wonderful day dear. I'm not a contest person so it was a very sweet surprise for me.

Deb M

February 8, 2024 at 3:22 AM

Absolutely beautiful and brilliant Nancy! Congratulations on POTD …..just love the concept of a paper memory tree! Debx

Nancy Kaufman

February 8, 2024 at 4:13 AM

Dear Deb M, Thank you so much. I am so pleased you liked the paper memory tree and am thrilled to be recognized on this site which has so many more talented and accomplished poets. I appreciate your poetry and your wonderful gift of empathy towards others. God bless

Eve Roper

February 8, 2024 at 3:09 AM

Lovely write, Nancy. The older we get the faster the tree grows its leaves. Congratulations on POTD

Nancy Kaufman

February 8, 2024 at 4:09 AM

Dear Eve, Thank you for your kind words and you are absolutely right with the recent pandemic and also being in my early 70's, a lot of people are transitioning these days. Have a blessed day dear poetess.