Taunted by Trees and Leaves
Become a
Premium Member
and post notes and photos about your poem like John Anderson.
*'Ents' are fictional, sentient tree-like creature from J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth, most notably featured in The Lord of the Rings. Ents are ancient beings, guardians of the forests, described as the "shepherds of the trees." They are tree-like in appearance, and extremely slow and deliberate in wise thought, speech and movement. Ents stop moving and become "treeish", sending down roots, and stop moving, when they grow weary, disillusioned, or lose their sense of purpose and decide to settle down.
Listen to poem:
Why to you have sides, front, back,
left and right besides, betides?
I'm offside, on no one's side.
Why regret and hide the gnarls,
scars and wrinkles on your hides?
Why be ashamed of the 'love-me-dos',
cut into your trunks,
by strangers with sharpened blades?
Why do you hide and cower in my shade
and not reach up with your leaves skyward,
into the warm sun's arms?
Instead you rake up my dead leaves? Why?
Where are your roots, in which my true strength lies?
Leaving your strength to arms and legs, denies you, your roots?
Be like me, rooted in the earth, reaching for the sky!
Why do you hate the passing of season so much?
For shedding and renewal,
allows green shoots and buds to grow.
Your quest for permanence and stability
begs your leaves to free-fall, unexpectedly,
leaving you stripped bare and unprepared.
Each winter I stand proud and tall
with limbs bare, resilient against the cold.
I well know that such absence, lack and emptiness
can never make me feel old.
For trees we never strive,
but lean to and in, compliant,
and stretch and bend gracefully.
Trees stay still and never leave, yet they claim their place.
They never seek tomorrow, satisfied with what is here and now.
Happy to shed what they no longer need, for renewal sake.
Growing slowly old, with dignity and grace.
They're mostly *'Ents', rooted in the earth,
with trunk and branches, twigs and leaves,
content with their lot.
Copyright © John Anderson | Year Posted 2025
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