Robert Lindley Poet Rhyme

Notes About The Poem

R.J. Lindley,
May 25th, 1977

Note- (Poem was inspired by the (1968) cutting down of our childhood castle, swing and climbing kingdom of childhood fantasy). My younger brothers and sisters cried..
Forest behind our home was being timbered out for its dollar value in its old,mighty and majestic oak trees.
Although land was owned by others, children see such gems when so loved as their own..

Syllables Per Line: 8 7 8 7 0 7 7 8 8 0 8 7 8 8 0 7 8 8 8 0 8 7 8 7
Total # Syllables: 152
Total # Words: 116

That Dark Day, Our Childhood Castle Was Felled

That Dark Day, Our Childhood Castle Was Felled

Deed was dark, day of its felling
deafening that mighty crash!
Tragic this tale of the telling
thoughtless men, acting so rash.

Where rests now, its flying hordes,
winged weary and storm attacked?
Hammer and nails will pierce its boards
another forest gem ransacked!

Horror struck, sight of destruction
young lad, heart was thus impaled;
needed wisdom, life's instruction
on why sincere prayer had failed!

Mighty oak, child's treasured friend
taken, slain as if not alive,
yes, said - all things come to this end
greed is gold, for its luster strive.

When death invades, innocence lost
will such deep scars ever heal?
Can gold thus gained, justify cost
when a child finds heart break real?

R.J. Lindley, 
May 25th, 1977

Note- (Poem was inspired by the (1968) cutting down of our childhood castle, swing and climbing kingdom of childhood fantasy). My younger brothers and sisters cried..
Forest behind our home was being timbered out for its dollar value in its old,mighty and majestic oak trees.
Although land was owned by others, children see such gems when so loved as their own..

♡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

Susan Ashley September 12, 2017 at 8:43 PM Your last line really got me Robert. The first time your heart is broken as a child is truly one of the saddest days. I remember when I felt heartbreak for the first time as a child... A very deeply moving, emotive and evocative write Robert. Such well expressed poetry in content, imagery, flow, rhythm and rhyme. Such a shame that your lofty kingdom was doomed - so much lost for Man's gain! Susan Ashley September 13, 2017 at 3:29 PM Thank you for sharing the sadnesses in your heart. Your sadness was beautifully expressed and through your words I can imagine what a traumatic and heartbreaking experience it was. I am glad that you gave the sad experience a strong, poetic voice my friend :) Robert Lindley September 13, 2017 at 10:51 AM Thank you my friend, for reading and commenting on this poem that has a very special place in my heart. As I wrote it with sadness in thinking/remembering about how deeply that great loss (that beloved tree) hurt my younger siblings! As well as the remaining ugliness, of that once wonderful/magical view, after that forest was so devastated. My sorrow was for their great loss and their innocence being far too early exposed to this dark world's greed.

Indiana Shaw September 12, 2017 at 9:56 AM As of your castle and all things precious - Man hunts for fortunes in wood and metal - The corporate men and their corporate bosses - Never see or feel the world of the children's losses - An appreciated and heartfelt poem "Robert" - As progress hurts - Indiana . . . Robert Lindley September 12, 2017 at 12:44 PM Thank you. Truth is--greed runs the world but to innocent children it all makes no sense. Their eyes are seeing with love and not financial gains.. Yet time and the world soon teaches that financial gain is to be king.. Reality is a hard taskmaster methinks.. Yet to survive a very necessary one..