The Willow Tree At the End of the Road

I must have been 7 when I first climbed that old willow tree,
The gang called it the club house.
There was Jodie, Bridget and of course Rebecca the Wrecker. 
I think that that tree was more of school than school.
It was more a parent than my parents.
I certainly learned more about life, boys and the fear of falling,
Than any other place I've been.
We once placed 5 snake eyed marbles there.
The first was Courage in Adversity.
The second marble was Joy in the good times.
The third was Faith to overcome Doubt.
The fourth was Love thy Father.
The fifth marble was Love thy Mother.

I went back one day, all grown up.
I saw that the council had a sign on the tree.
This tree is regarded as unsafe. 
Please beware.

Oh doubt in my childhood. Fear in the  every day.
Let not the pangs of daily life ever erase
The treasured moments in that tree.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2012



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

Date: 7/6/2012 2:00:00 AM
Rebecca, it's just a tree!!!David
Login to Reply
Watson Avatar
Rebecca Watson
Date: 7/6/2012 7:21:00 PM
I know but it's just my tree.
Date: 7/4/2012 8:26:00 PM
I love willow trees and I love this poem, Rebecca. Relating it to treasures of childhood. I didn't realize it was ABC. Are you sure it's not a type of free verse or something? Welcome to Soup. I left a note to your comment to me back at my Chiron poem.
Login to Reply
Date: 7/4/2012 4:25:00 PM
Rebecca you are wonderful, thanks for this piece. Shallom.
Login to Reply
Date: 7/2/2012 6:15:00 PM
What a treasure house of memories... I love Rebecca the wrecker, and your 5 marble interlude was a pleasure to read! Welcome to the Soup! Best wishes, Keith
Login to Reply
Date: 7/2/2012 6:11:00 PM
If you don't care, then don't read, and don't comment.
Login to Reply
Date: 6/13/2012 6:12:00 PM
loved it,just posted a poem Laugh out Loud,the link between both poems made me smile,check it out,great write Rebecca
Login to Reply
Date: 6/7/2012 3:51:00 PM
This is really VERY good , Rebecca. You are very talented and I look forward to reading more...There was a tree in our yard when I was a kid and I practically LIVED in it in the summer. I replied to your recent comment on my poem...check it out if you like - Tim
Login to Reply
Date: 6/7/2012 3:37:00 AM
A lovely written poem Rebecca, thank you. - oxox Anne-Lise
Login to Reply
Date: 6/4/2012 3:04:00 AM
I enjoyed his very much. Thanks for sharing it.
Login to Reply
Date: 6/3/2012 7:38:00 PM
thinking about life lessens; a child may fall out of it and break an arm. and it will be a lesson for the child. but another child may climb higher and his fall takes his life. is that a lesson for the parent. only God knows.
Login to Reply
Date: 6/1/2012 12:07:00 PM
Nice!!
Login to Reply
Date: 5/27/2012 4:04:00 AM
"So Beautifully said, I Have tressured those moments as well. As for the comment on my page, the message was: loving some one that you can't have, and doen't notice you Only in reflection.
Login to Reply
Date: 5/24/2012 12:29:00 AM
A case of the past being part of our future, and sometimes we go back to the future. Alas, it's never as it was. Nostalgic piece, thoroughly enjoyed :)
Login to Reply
Date: 5/22/2012 11:25:00 AM
Enjoyed reading your wonderful poetry today Rebecca. Love, Carol
Login to Reply
Date: 5/21/2012 6:58:00 PM
Sounds like a wonderful memory...I think you will keep that forever...poor old tree...BG
Login to Reply
Watson Avatar
Rebecca Watson
Date: 5/21/2012 8:45:00 PM
They did chop it down but I believe it sent up a new tree somewhere else. Thank you for your kind comment
Get a Premium Membership
Get more exposure for your poetry and more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Reflection on the Important Things

Member Area

My Admin
Profile and Settings
Edit My Poems
Edit My Quotes
Edit My Short Stories
Edit My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder

Soup Social

Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us

Member Poems

Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New (All)
Poems - New (PM)
Poems - New by Poet
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread

Member Poets

Poets - Best New
Poets - New
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems Recent
Poets - Top 100 Community
Poets - Top 100 Contest

Famous Poems

Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100

Famous Poets

Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - Most Popular
Famous Poets - Top 100
Famous Poets - Best
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War

Poetry Resources

Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetics
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
Store
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter