The Tree We Grew To Love

At the bottom of our garden
Standing for many many years
Below seasonal greens and blossoms
And all of natures tears

This gem of harvesting joy
Showered crops of richness grow
For season after season
When autumn came it showed

It's fruits of life stood out
Against the nature of each day
And all who graced this marvel
Were always said to say

This tree from mother earth
Has given year after year
In rain, hail or shine
In beautiful appear

Again this year we were graced
With baskets of apple gold
But sadness cloaked our hearts
For our tree would never grow old

The first winter storm
Spewed bolts of lightning blue
Amidst the claps of thunder
Was gone the tree we knew

We were awoken in the night
By creaks of deafening cry
Looking out the window
Brought tears to our eyes

This marvel that we grew up with
Was cut down in it's prime
For nature had decided
That this was not it's time

The very next morning
Amongst the devastation
Was our tree of life
Shattered, lay her creation

Now many months have passed
On this stump we have grown to love
And recall that stormy night
And that bolt from above
Copyright © | Year Posted 2010

Poem

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Richards Avatar
November 18, 2010 at 10:19 AM
This sounds like such a true accounting of a tree....it gives that sense of loss. Well Done James! Congratulations on your win!
K. Avatar
November 17, 2010 at 10:16 PM
What a different take you took with this James with that bolt of lightning and so wonderfully written too--- Congrats on your win with this moving poem :) --nikko :)
Mehta Avatar
November 17, 2010 at 10:11 PM
James...many congrats on big win in the contest... Luv/Best wishes.... hitendra Mehta
Dietrich Avatar
November 17, 2010 at 9:43 PM
Congratulatioms, James, on your awesome win. This reminds me a bit of my decorative pear tree. It's a magnificent tree and with a summer storm, 1/3 of it fell off from the side. It made me so sad. I hope it regrows that portion that came off. I hope that it does not die from that missing part. Do you think it will live? Luv, Andrea
Sweetheart Avatar
November 17, 2010 at 7:54 PM
Congrats James on your winning poem in Matt's contest fell in luv with a tree stump.. a great write and win ..enjoy with luv..
Mannan Avatar
November 17, 2010 at 7:48 PM
A beautiful and touching poem. Many congratulations for this win.
Guzzi Avatar
November 17, 2010 at 4:31 PM
I hate it when trees die, I love trees! Very nice write here congrad's Light & Love
Devonshire Avatar
October 15, 2010 at 2:47 PM
Chilling, James. It's terrible the way nature sometimes reclaims some of her own beauty by lightning, tsunamis, earthquakes. I hope you didn't really lose this precious tree. The stump would be a sad place to sit and recall this tree's bountiful days. Goes to my faves, dear friend. Love, Carolyn
Roberts Avatar
October 15, 2010 at 10:10 AM
lovely entry for the contest James, good luck
Peranteau Avatar
October 15, 2010 at 9:25 AM
Sad feeling I get reading this tremendous poem Sir ! Well; I hope that you have some seeds from the tree and patients for offspring for the next blessed bite ! Much love, james
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