Sam Kauffman Poet Elegy

Elegy for Old Growth

Elegy – 7-17-24
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Elegy for Old Growth

Through measures of metered melancholy
The tattered winds sing a rent elegy,
A pensive wail for pristine old growth,
A drifting chant in pure pitch of final farewell –
The mute tongue howls in eulogy
For virgins of a thousand turns around the sun
For helpless giants surrendered in atonal sacrifice.

Gentle titans with feathery boughs lifted their faces
To embrace misted melodies of summer and winter snows
Forest zephyrs sang lullabies for sparrows 
Nesting in their rustling wombs
Then shared the secret lyrics of their song
With robins sheltered in their lofty grace of red bark
In evensongs, matins and spring symphonies.

The myrrh of burial mixes with their lingering fragrance
In desolation and in their exposed flesh,
Nude hillsides of purple rage
Scream in final dirges of farewell
Modulated into anthems sung to saplings in circles of renewal
Little ones, like half steps, change elegies to odes
The threadbare zephyr now chants paeans to remember.

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L. J. Carber November 23, 2025 at 9:00 AM Your poems are so lyrical, Sam--you are gifted with a musical mind!

Constance La France August 7, 2024 at 1:46 PM Sam, congratulations on your win in my contest with your elegy poem, well done, Constance

Daniel Henry Rodgers July 26, 2024 at 7:47 AM Dear Sam, I am right there with you as we mourn the loss of our ancient forests and lament the destruction of majestic old-growth trees. As I read your poem I believe you have eloquently portrayed the ecological and spiritual significance of these forests. It will take time for the new growth and renewal to emerge from the devastation and yes, we will be transforming elegies into odes for future generations. – Blessings, My Dear Friend, Daniel

Duke Beaufort July 25, 2024 at 8:39 AM Sam, this poem does indeed express sadness. If we allowed these biomes to exist without interference, there would be more of them in various stages of development with some old and some new intertwined. Your pain is certainly justified.

Joseph May July 24, 2024 at 5:59 PM "The tattered wind howls a misted melody", Very nicely done Sam

Christuraj Alex July 23, 2024 at 7:03 PM "The threadbare zephyr now chants paeans to remember" - A grand poem. Congratulations!

Paula Goldsmith July 23, 2024 at 10:17 AM Congratulations on your win. I enjoyed reading your wonderful/creative write. Have a wonderful day writing away.............

Mrs. Yolanda Nicholsen July 21, 2024 at 1:40 AM This is an awesome write enjoyed reading your poem many blessings

Joseph P. DiMino July 19, 2024 at 11:02 PM "Modulated into anthems sung to saplings in circles of renewal Little ones, like half steps, change elegies to odes The threadbare zephyr now chants paeans to remember." -- No need for those wonderful warriors of time to be cut down. There are faster growing, different varieties of wood for construction purposes that work just fine. Great imagery! There should be a moratorium on all old growth logging. To my mind anyway. Well done.

Sara Kendrick July 19, 2024 at 11:35 AM A very descriptive work for the contest. It reads like a good contender to me. Way to go. Thank you for sharing it with us and for dropping by ..Sara K

Kim Rodrigues July 19, 2024 at 10:02 AM Lovely imagery, my friend! The mute tongue howls in eulogy For virgins of a thousand turns around the sun… Nude hillsides of purple rage Scream in final dirges of farewell (that whole verse haunting!) Sam Kauffman July 19, 2024 at 10:21 AM Hi Kim! Thank you so much, my friend. I loved the idea of using the elegy (song of mourning) for the sorrow I feel as I watch the old growth redwood forests cut down. Seeing the naked hillsides is a haunting experience for me. I am so glad that came through in this poem. And, on the other hand, knowing that baby redwoods grow in a circle around the mother tree gives me hope even though it will take 1,000 years for them to be like their parent! Sending you my grateful appreciation and blessings!

Ink Empress July 18, 2024 at 11:37 PM This is so unique samszy! The word pairing and play with words is what makes this stand out for me! From metered melancholy. How perfectly sad does that sound, how clever ! You really left me speechless in awe of what youv delivered here. I especially love “Little ones, like half steps, change elegies to odes The threadbare zephyr now chants paeans to remember.” Theres a very lyrical cadence to this poignant and heartfelt poem and i felt it. Pleasure reading this. Best wishes. Sam Kauffman July 19, 2024 at 9:37 AM Dearest Inky! Your thoughtful feedback reflects your insight into the sadness of this poem - into the heartbreak of losing our old growth redwoods yet recognizing that each tree leaves a circle of small legacies as new redwood trees grow in circles around one main tree because their roots are so shallow. They support one another. Funny, that is the way I view friends and colleagues here in the soup! I am deeply touched by your wonderful note. Thank you, dear friend! Sending you blessings! Samzy~

Paige Hind July 18, 2024 at 1:51 PM This is so emotional- with power, Sam. Whoa...such depicting imagery... a fav- take care<3 Sam Kauffman July 19, 2024 at 9:25 AM Hi Paige! This poem reflects my sadness as I see the old growth forests destroyed. Constance' contest was a wonderful opportunity to write about the loss of these majestic giants. Sending you a big thank you for your fav, your wonderful feedback. Blessings!