Suzanne Delaney Poet Free verse

Notes About The Poem

 

This photo inspired this poem

http://cathedralgrove.eu/pictures/05-7-03.jpg

Photogragh of a Redwood Stump In Sepia

 The human spirit needs places where
nature has not been rearranged
by the hand of man
Author Unknown

A metal rail now mocks the space

where a massive trunk once rose two hundred feet, 
and a long stairway, and a sign,and a doorway
 make up  ‘The Stump Hotel.’ 

As a roadside attraction this once magnificent tree
is more suggestive of an amputee
whose prosthesis
could never recapture the living limb or,
a whisper of the spark within.                                                      

                   
Think -of the many who came and stood,
here on this altered stump.

Did anyone look up to see its phantom trunk
rising to the moon?

101 in a ROW contest - 12
Contest Judged:  9/8/2016 10:36:00 AM
Sponsored by: Poet Destroyer A
8th Place

Published in “ PS, It’s Poetry” Anthology available on Amazon.

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Line Gauthier May 20, 2021 at 8:09 AM Wow ~ impressive. Love the "phantom trunk" element. Bravo ~

Team Poetrysoup March 31, 2019 at 4:02 AM fantastic Suzanne Delaney March 31, 2019 at 7:49 AM A rare honor. Thank you. Suzanne.

Caren Krutsinger March 24, 2019 at 9:46 PM Beautifully written, it brings to my mind the fact that amputees feel their missing limbs. A tribute to trees and the moon. Gorgeous imagery. Suzanne Delaney March 25, 2019 at 7:55 AM Good morning Karen: Thanks for reading and commenting. I think this has to be one of my poems I worked the hardest on to get right although it doesn’t seem like it. Always appreciate your kind comments. SuZ

Richard Lamoureux September 12, 2016 at 9:00 AM This is so good especially the last stanza. Richard Lamoureux September 12, 2016 at 9:01 AM Congrats on your win.

Poet Destroyer A September 8, 2016 at 11:02 AM Hi Suz, Congratulations on your awesome win. Stop by my blog "Tonight I will Write" and enjoy your win. Always & Forever ~LINDA~

Carol Mays March 26, 2015 at 6:19 PM Suzanne--This is poignant, wise, and beautiful. Thank you. Carol

Monterey Sirak November 14, 2014 at 9:47 AM Oh my, this is amazing! Love the images of man-made objects 'mocking' the memories of the beautiful nature it destroyed.

Joseph May November 11, 2014 at 7:28 PM I am glad that people fought to stop them from destroying more of these beautiful trees...lovely write

Timothy Hicks November 10, 2014 at 2:03 PM Wow, great observation, Suzanne. You brought it all to a peak with that last line - it's phantom trunk rising to the moon. Judging by our soupmail conversations and poetry that you write, I can see that you are very much a nature girl. Technology and modernization is great and all... but even the techiest (is that a word?) need to be reminded of the rawness and beauty of mother nature.