Tom Cunningham Poet Personification

Notes About The Poem

Written on the 27th September 2025

For I am a tree poetry contest - Sponsored by Tania Kitchin.

I am a Sequoia tree

I began life as a humble seed over four hundred years ago,
now I'm three hundred feet high and I continue to grow. 
I live in the north of California not far from the coast
and I'm the tallest tree on earth; that's no idle boast. 
I have a native American Cherokee name; I'm a Sequoia tree. 
But folks know me as a Redwood, and that's fine with me. 
I consider myself very lucky because I am still alive, 
many of my friends have perished in wildfires and didn't survive 
So, if you're driving up the coastal highway you can't fail to see,
me and my Sequoia friends and family towering majestically. 

♡Like0

Share Poem

---

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Duke Beaufort January 4, 2026 at 4:13 PM Tom, this has something really special. The appreciation for nature is worth a lot...and I wish more people could experience it. BTW, I haven't been spending much time on this site of late. However, I see I missed some of your wonderful work and a chance to smile! Thanks and hope you are truly well. Tom Cunningham January 5, 2026 at 5:15 AM Thank you Duke, we have those trees in the uk but they're only babies compared to the ones you have. I had quite a busy year travelling then was busy compiling a slide show for a family reunion. I'm slowly weening myself back here, I'm doing ok and hope you are too. Tom

Bj Legros Kelley November 15, 2025 at 11:24 PM Oh gosh Tom, I love the Redwood Forest. Once you've been there it seems it will forever call back to your heart! I love your tribute to the awesome, majestic Sequoia, and the Redwood Forest. Oh, now you have me longing to go back there again! Tom Cunningham November 16, 2025 at 3:32 AM Thank you BJ, I went to California a few years back ,sadly I didn’t get to see them, we have some down south in the UK but they’re only babies. Hope you’re keeping well. Tom

Sam Kauffman October 30, 2025 at 10:59 AM Greetings, Tom! What a tender and magnificent tribute to the redwood trees close to us. They are a fascinating miracle of nature. Even though started by a seed, sequoias propagate by sending out shoots in a circle around the parent tree that in turn become giant sequoias - a community that holds up each tree as their roots are shallow. And you are correct that while many are lost to forest fires they also have some ability to withstand a fire. Have fun in Spain! Over Fork Over! Let me know if you plan a visit to these miracles! Tom Cunningham November 1, 2025 at 9:16 AM Thank you very much Sam, they're beautiful trees for sure, we have them in the New Forest in the UK, certainly not as tall as yours. They're on my bucket list. Home now as nothing planned for a while, had our family reunion last weekend and my slideshow was a hit. Hope you're keeping well. Over Fork Over. Tom

Suzanne Delaney October 8, 2025 at 6:27 AM Wonderful description of the awe inspiring Sequoia trees, Tom I haven't had a lot of time since Hurricane Helene. I think if was a tree I'd be a Weeping Cherry. May write it someday, Cheers, SuZ Suzanne Delaney October 8, 2025 at 7:10 AM We are fine now, Tom....All damage repaired. Just time consuming. Sending smiles. Tom Cunningham October 8, 2025 at 6:55 AM Thank you very much Suz, I hope you weren't badly affected by it. We seem to get the tail end of hurricanes here in the uk and they're quite bad. Hope you're okay. Tom

Kim Rodrigues October 6, 2025 at 5:53 AM Congrats! Yes, they are worth the drive! Tom Cunningham October 6, 2025 at 6:34 AM Thank you very much for your congrats Kim, they're certainly one of nature's wonders. Hope you're keeping well. Tom

Anne-Lise Andresen October 6, 2025 at 12:44 AM - Congratulations on your win in the contest, Tom :) - Have a great week :) - hugs Tom Cunningham October 6, 2025 at 4:05 AM Thank you very much Anne Lise, greetings from the coast of Spain, hope you too have a lovely week ahead. Tom

Abdullah Alhemaidy October 5, 2025 at 11:04 PM Very nice! Congratulations on your win! Tom Cunningham October 5, 2025 at 11:34 PM Thank you very much Abdullah, I'm happy you enjoyed it. Enjoy your week ahead. Tom

Gershon Wolf October 5, 2025 at 7:44 PM Nice entry for the contest, Tom... btw, you may be a tall, majestic tree, but I am the King of England. ~Recent escapee from the Cuckoo House Tom Cunningham October 5, 2025 at 11:32 PM Lol, thanks Gershon, do I address you as your majesty. Hope you're keeping well. Tom

Paula Goldsmith October 5, 2025 at 11:51 AM Congratulations on your win. I enjoyed reading your wonderful "I am a Sequoia tree" write/tribute. Great Picture... Hope you are OK. Have a Blessed week writing away.......... Tom Cunningham October 5, 2025 at 11:55 AM Thank you very much Paula, im happy you enjoyed it. I'm travelling again while I can, hope you are keeping well. Tom

Andrea Dietrich October 5, 2025 at 11:44 AM Loved your personification of them is huge well known tree. Congratulations Tom Cunningham October 5, 2025 at 11:54 AM Thank you very much Andrea, can't believe how big they are, there's one in northern California that you can drive through the base of its trunk. Tom

Tania Kitchin October 5, 2025 at 6:31 AM Tom, congratulations on your first place win with your wonderful tree poem. Tom Cunningham October 5, 2025 at 11:52 AM Thank you very much Tania, those trees fascinate me. We have some in the UK but much smaller than their American cousins. Thanks too for hosting the contest. Tom

Karen Jones October 4, 2025 at 2:23 PM Beautifully written and so engaging Tim! Love it! Tom Cunningham October 5, 2025 at 11:50 AM Thank you very much Karen, I'm happy you enjoyed it. Hope you're keeping well. Tom

Daniel Henry Rodgers September 30, 2025 at 11:16 AM Hey Tom, I love how you gave the Sequoia such a strong, proud voice. I could picture it standing tall through centuries, weathering everything, and still towering with quiet majesty. The mix of history, survival, and presence gave it such warmth and personality. Beautifully grounded and vivid, my friend. Autumn Blessings, Tom, Daniel Tom Cunningham September 30, 2025 at 11:59 AM Thank you very much Daniel, I’m happy that you enjoyed it, I’ve seen them in the uk but not as tall as their Californian cousins ,another few hundred years before they catch up lol. Hope you’re keeping well. Tom

Victor Buhagiar September 29, 2025 at 8:58 AM A great personification. What a pity here in Malta we cut trees indiscriminately. Tom Cunningham September 29, 2025 at 9:55 AM Thank you Victor, thats a shame, mankind needs more trees not less. Tom

Sara Kendrick September 28, 2025 at 6:34 AM Ahhh!!! Wonderful work. I enjoyed reading it today. They are beauties, but I have only seen them in pictures. I wonder if they would survive here in this area. Thanks for sharing this with us. Sara K Tom Cunningham September 28, 2025 at 8:04 AM Thank you Sara, although they're native to the US we have them in the UK,if they can survive our rainy weather I'm sure they'd grow in Canada. Amazing that they can live for a few thousand years. Tom

Ilene Bauer September 27, 2025 at 12:55 PM this is wonderful tom! best of luck in the contest... Tom Cunningham September 27, 2025 at 1:00 PM Thank you very much Ilene, I'm happy you enjoyed it. Hope you are keeping well. Tom

Dr. Vandana Sharma September 27, 2025 at 3:18 AM Such a tribute to the great Sequoia! All the best. Tom Cunningham September 27, 2025 at 4:08 AM Thank you Dr Sharma, I’ve seen them in the UK in the new forest, not as tall as their American cousins though. Enjoy your weekend. Tom

Anne-Lise Andresen September 27, 2025 at 2:02 AM - A stately and ancient tree in all its beauty, Tom :) - Best wishes in the contest :) - Have a lovely weekend :) - hugs Tom Cunningham September 27, 2025 at 4:05 AM Thank you very much Anne-Lise, they are magnificent trees that can live for thousands of years. Hope you too have a lovely weekend. Tom

Deb M September 27, 2025 at 12:19 AM Interesting read and well written poem Tom….four hundred years standing strong..thats amazing!! Debx Tom Cunningham September 27, 2025 at 12:44 AM Thank you very much Deb, they are amazing trees, there are some down in the new forest but they are babies compared to the American ones. If they could talk I'm sure they'd have stories to tell. They can live up to 3000 years. Hope you're keeping well. Tom