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What Kind of Tree

What gave me away? Was it my sway? Or my long limber limbs Like glasses with broken rims? Oh sure, wind has its way with me, But broken or uprooted, I’ll never be. Neither short nor tall, would be my description. My strength and elasticity, a better depiction. Cry me a river is your first hint, And for the second; I’m easily bent. Not a flower, or a bush, but green if you please. In a botanical listing, I’m found under trees. Who I am, I will proudly bellow. I’m known to all as a weeping willow.

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Charlotte Puddifoot

Date: 11/15/2023 3:52:00 AM

weeping willows are so lovely, and so is this personification; i like the wordplay of 'limber limbs'..thanks for your kind comments on my work :)

Bill Baker
Date: 11/15/2023 5:41:00 PM

You.re welcome, my friend, and thank you for reading and comment on my poetry. Smiles ~ Blessings Bill

Karen Croft

Date: 11/14/2023 8:06:00 AM

Lovely, my favorite tree!

Bill Baker
Date: 11/14/2023 8:43:00 AM

I like them too, Karen. A poet friend in Texas, Bill

Beryl Edmonds

Date: 11/14/2023 1:45:00 AM

I guessed it was a weeping willow before I reached the end, a lovely write Bill. Poet pal Belle

Bill Baker
Date: 11/14/2023 8:44:00 AM

I thought a few of you would figure it out, Belle. I was trying to help us keep our minds sharp, yours is I see. Your poet pal in Texas, Bill

Sotto Poet

Date: 11/13/2023 4:14:00 PM

You did an excellent job of portraying the versatility of a weeping willow; it illustrates the necessity of being flexible to remain stable in the face of adversity. The analogy is fantastic.

Bill Baker
Date: 11/13/2023 8:41:00 PM

A good subject to use as a metaphor for humans. Thanks for the thoughtful comments, my friend. Good to see you entering a lot of contest. Write On! Bill

Silent One

Date: 11/13/2023 1:55:00 PM

Great personification once again Bill.. I had feeling it could be a weeping willow.. someone bought me one as a birthday gift once, which I found strange.. however it never really grew, it died in my poetic garden...

Bill Baker
Date: 11/13/2023 8:48:00 PM

Awe, sorry it died, we've had them in our back yard at several different homes. Thanks for the comments, Silent One. I appreciate all the encouragement you spread around on Poetry Soup. Have a great week! Bill

Paula Goldsmith

Date: 11/13/2023 10:50:00 AM

A lovey write for a lovely tree. Have a blessed day/week writing away...............

Bill Baker
Date: 11/13/2023 8:53:00 PM

Thank you, Paula, I hope you enjoyed reading it. Have a pleasant week, my friend. Bill

David Smith

Date: 11/13/2023 1:11:00 AM

Anyone on likes trees can't be half bad. Nothing like a tree for children, ideally with a tree house in it. Love weeping willows, also ordinary willow. Our eldest daughter bought us another Magnolia this one real thing will grow to twelve meters. We also have a smaller bush-like one. You may like my poem 'the tree that never was' I posted quite a while ago Take care David in NZ

Bill Baker
Date: 11/13/2023 8:58:00 PM

Thanks for the visit and comments, David. I'll try to find your poem and read it. Have a great week! Bill

Arastu Goyal

Date: 11/12/2023 8:00:00 PM

Loved this piece! I really liked the image that has been painted here, I am not really good with tree names so I don't have the answer to the riddle, though I really enjoyed this piece :-)

Bill Baker
Date: 11/13/2023 8:57:00 PM

It is a weeping willow tree. Thanks for reading and commenting on my poetry, Arastu. I enjoy reading your poetry. A poet friend in Texas, Bill

Susan Ashley

Date: 11/12/2023 5:37:00 PM

Dear Bill, I adore weeping willows and your brilliant poem personifies the willow tree so beautifully. Willows are inspiring for their resilience and grace and your splendid verse captures their spirit with poetic finesse. "Cry me a river" for your first hint was ingenious, my friend. Exquisite! Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Bill Baker
Date: 11/13/2023 8:55:00 PM

I glad you enjoyed my poem, Susan. I had fun writing it as well. Have a pleasant week, my friend. Bill

Suzanne Delaney

Date: 11/12/2023 4:53:00 PM

The Weeping Willow is such a beautiful tree and adds such elegance to a garden or park. Fun way to turn a poem into a guessing game. Very cleve, Bill:) SuZ

Bill Baker
Date: 11/13/2023 8:54:00 PM

Thank, my sweet friend. It was a fun write. Smiles ~ Blessings Bill

Ink Empress

Date: 11/12/2023 1:59:00 PM

This is so much like a personification of weeping willow, i love reading intriguing poems like this but im always slow to figure out what its about. However youve passed on many hints and that last line definitely lets the reader know what you’ve so artistically in such deep manner described. I really love “ cry me a river” line .: i cant stop singing the song now. Hah. Amazing work dear Bill. Loved this

Bill Baker
Date: 11/13/2023 8:53:00 PM

Thank you for the visits and comments, my dear friend. (And for the heads up on type of poem) You're right, it is a personification poem. I corrected it. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Smiles ~ Blessings Bill

David Fisher

Date: 11/12/2023 1:39:00 PM

What a fun poem idea that had me thinking white birch at first. Cry me a river was a great hint; such a unique tree.

Bill Baker
Date: 11/13/2023 8:49:00 PM

Thank for the comment, David. I glad you enjoyed my poem. A poet friend in Texas, Bill

Paige Hind

Date: 11/12/2023 12:46:00 PM

Beautiful! Willow trees are among my fav trees.

Bill Baker
Date: 11/13/2023 8:45:00 PM

Thanks for the visit and comments, Paige. I like willow trees too. Have a pleasant week, my friend. Bill

Sara Etgen-Baker

Date: 11/12/2023 11:55:00 AM

you so eloquently described the flexibility of a weeping willow...it stands as a symbol for us on how to be 'elastic' so we can endure in storms. I appreciate the wisdom of this metaphor and your poem really touched be dear hubby. What a rush I get when I see your thoughts in print...I'm so proud of you!! eastside writing bear

Bill Baker
Date: 11/14/2023 9:01:00 AM

Thank you my westside writing bear, for your kind words and your appreciative heart. Smiles ~ Blessings Bill