A Tree Grows In Avignon

A Tree grows in Avignon

Planted by a Soldiers hand,
She slept, while Europe blazed.
Bore silence through winters cull,
Captured in darkness, there to laze
Amongst the ruins of Avignon.

Freed by the spring,
Guarded by the sun.
Born in thunders drench
A seedling of hope for Avignon


Gave witness to unjust death,
Found her strength in summer’s breath.
Drank the blood of murders shame,
Grew fertile, her innocence to bear
Seduced by the bees of Avignon

Gave birth, to temptation 
Casting forth her gift,
Amongst the ruin,
While Children played,  in her boughs.
A new beginning, the bad forgotten
Healing the scars of Avignon

Taken confession, the old to cleanse,
Listened to love,
Their dreams to mend.
 Sheltered the lost, from Natures eye.
Watched children grow,
And the old men die,
For she is the spirit of Avignon

Planted by a soldiers hand,
 When dark clouds gathered
A place of love, redemption tethered
To forget the war
And find his wife
A tree of Life for Avignon

 Time moves on.
 The soul returns,
And still she grows.
Anonymous to a stranger’s eye,
 A cathedral of hope, a grannies smile.
A tree of home. 
A tree that set us free,
That tree that saved my Avignon.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2011

Poem

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Guzzi Avatar
June 21, 2012 at 2:58 PM
Makes on want to go to Avignon..I used to know a French song about a bridge there? Light & Love
Simmons Avatar
August 10, 2011 at 3:49 PM
Peace and God's Blessings to you and yours...I'm still recovering from 17 days in the hospital and 4 blood transfusions, therefore forgive the delay in responding to the love you showed towards my poem...I think this poem is a masterpiece. It had a message, it had meaning, it had musicality.....it had great meter...My motto that I coined is Poetry Is The Soundtrack Of Life" You've added another aural CD to this life's soundtrack. Be Faithful and Blessed....Uno
Ball Avatar
August 6, 2011 at 11:26 AM
Oh this is absolutely lovely. So much tenderness and care in here. A could see the soldier planting a little seed or a seedling amid all that ugliness. Something to live amid all that death. Wonderful write my friend. I just love this. God Bless, JB
Ramsdale Avatar
August 5, 2011 at 2:50 PM
Steven: Intriguing story and title my friend. I surfed the net for background and images of Avignon, France since this poem facinated me. The Avignon photos saddened me greatly. How woeful is irreparable loss? Great job! Blessings, Caryl
Vella Petroni Avatar
August 4, 2011 at 7:29 AM
wow, You know you made me cry? :) an amazing good ending with a continuous twist into it
Wesley Avatar
July 31, 2011 at 10:04 PM
Had to come back and read this again. The last line of each verse is wonderful and pulls the whole poem together beautifully. Nice write!
Johnson Avatar
July 31, 2011 at 7:59 AM
Great poem mate, i did enjoy the vision here, Don
Fraser Avatar
July 30, 2011 at 9:30 AM
A most terrific piece Steven, the kindness and hope in your words abounds aplenty. It was a pleasure to read this wonderful poem this fine Saturday. Have a lovely weekend, and many thanks for your kind words :)
Horne Avatar
July 29, 2011 at 1:30 PM
Awesome write, Steven
Wesley Avatar
July 28, 2011 at 6:16 PM
more soup mail
Yadav Avatar
July 28, 2011 at 5:20 PM
wow!..this is an awesome write!...''Planted by a Soldiers hand, That tree that saved my Avignon.''...a gripping piece from first to last..
Mclaughlin Avatar
July 28, 2011 at 4:47 PM
Steven firstly what a beautiful soulful write, Thank you so much this also a Top Write Dawn x
Wesley Avatar
July 28, 2011 at 11:41 AM
Steven, this is a wonderful poignant verse told with such emotion. Bless you my friend and I do enjoy your poems. Soup mail for you.
Onclaud Avatar
July 28, 2011 at 4:03 AM
glorious oiece brimming with hope and elegance..wow, steven.. :) huggs, nette
Ross Jr. Avatar
July 27, 2011 at 7:23 PM
Beautiful write mate....God bless...Old Jack
Dufresne Avatar
July 27, 2011 at 5:43 PM
you have a wonderous talent Steven. and I look forward to more of your poetry. it deserves much more than an "I don't know form." Please call it Free verse or prose or anything but I don't know because one thing I do know is it is good poetry my friend...so treat it so. Thanks for sharing it. -Bob
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