Sandra Haight Poet Rondeau

Notes About The Poem

1669- 2015 Newburgh, NY

Oh Balmville Tree

Oh, Balmville Tree, you were cut down.
So many years, you spread your gown
of limbs and branches that reached high
so large and stately neath our sky...
but doomed unsafe before our town.

Three hundred, sixteen years with crown...
a cottonwood of great renown;
George Washington near you rode by.
Oh, Balmville Tree.

Today, our sadness we can drown
in this new park, your stump, worn brown,
beset with benches, flowers nigh
in homage to your life's goodbye.
Yet on your stump, new leafy 'down'!
Oh, Balmville Tree.


Sandra M. Haight

~1st Place~
Contest: Give Me A Rondeau
Sponsor: Janice Canerdy
Judged: 11/20/2017

~5th Place~
Premiere Contest: Best Rondeau Poem
Sponsor: Laura Loo
Judged: 07/14/2016

Note: "It is a Methuselah among trees, a gnarled and furrowed 
Cottonwood that has lived four times as long as its kind was 
meant to live.  George Washington rode past it on the way 
to his Newburgh, New York headquarters..." NY Times, 09/20/2015

♡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

Sara Kendrick November 20, 2017 at 10:54 AM Your Rondeau speaks excellence...Wonderful to share the winners’ list with you...Congrats on your placement..Sara

Joanna Daniel November 13, 2017 at 5:42 AM Very informative poem about a wonderful tree, Sandra:) congratulations:)

James Inman November 12, 2017 at 3:54 AM A lovely write Sandra.

Janice Canerdy November 12, 2017 at 12:16 AM Thank you for entering your GREAT poem in my contest, Sandra. Congratulations on your well-deserved win. Janice

Larry Bradfield July 14, 2016 at 4:39 PM Well deserved, Sandra, and well written. To add to your lore of cottonwoods...in Spanish cottonwood is Alamo and us Texans consider that a sacred word..LOL...Larry

Tom Arnone July 14, 2016 at 4:07 PM My favorite -- so far. Love your educational descriptions of the cottonwood tree. :-) Sandra Haight July 14, 2016 at 4:10 PM Thank you very much, Tom. This tree was part of our family for three generations and is only half a mile from where we live. At least the Town fixed up a mini-park to pay tribute to it for the community and visitors. I appreciate your nice visit and supportive comment. Sandra

Alexis Y. July 14, 2016 at 12:22 PM Hi Sandra, I enjoyed this well written informative write. Good imagery as well.Congrats on your win.It was well deserved: -) Alexis Sandra Haight July 14, 2016 at 4:11 PM Thank you so much, Alexis. It was a special tree. I appreciate your visit, positive comments and congrats! Hugs, Sandra

Beautiful Scars July 14, 2016 at 11:46 AM Sandra, what an amazing story this reads! Very informative and a different take on the contest...congrats on your placement and thank you for being a part of my contest :)-luloo Sandra Haight July 14, 2016 at 4:12 PM Thank you very much, Luloo! I am honored to be on your short list of winners! Hugs, Sandra

Viv Wigley July 11, 2016 at 11:27 PM Lovely poem, Sandra, sad but with a sprig of hope at the end. New life springs from death. Great stuff. Viv x