Best Branch Poems
outside my window sits a chickadee
he loves trees of oak & pine
has a family of a hundred & three
they love the snow & falling snowflakes sublime
& each morning some gather to sing a symphony for me
Broken Branch
by Amy Swanson, 2008
Winter-gray tree branch
Hangs low, stricken by the storm
Broken... but alive.
the bare branch
as with other things
the mystery is gone
When you think of your last days here on earth
Will you have relationship regrets before you depart
Estranged and alienated from loved ones or friends
Will you leave this world with a heavy heart
Reflecting back on the situation
Does it now seem insignificant and small
Do you wish it had never happened
The details can you even recall
Do you look back on the incident
Think of how silly it now seems
Was in blown out of proportion
Was it taken to extremes
Do you wish you could make it right
Make amends ,clear the slate
Could you still do that
Or is it too late
However, some falling-outs and fueds
Should never be resolved nor changed
The reason to huge or ugly
It is best to remain estranged
Are any of your estrangements resolvable
Do you feel you could be brave and take the chance
To reach out your hand in kindness
To offer an Olive Branch
Left on a branch that has a crack...
I sit still and stare out to a world of distract...
Blissful memories that hold my thoughts with a grip...
As fallen sins still have the power to trip...
I'm excepting the break and the fall that will come...
Having said my peace to the moon and sun...
It's not the drop as much as the snap that I fear...
So I will close my eyes and let faith whisper in my ear...
1416 HAIKU Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Brian Strand
Contest Judged: 9/30/2025 12:10:00 AM
( 10th Place )
autumn’s last red leaf
clings trembling to the thin branch
wind waits for nothing
I was just drifting off,
A quiet snooze on the bench
Under the tree,
When I heard:
"I hereby declare this meeting open!
The frosts have given way,
The hush of winter loosens,
Spring has stepped up for Lady Day."
A busy chatter of squirrels start to gather
For the branch meeting.
Trees unfurling into bud
Yield a promise of nest eggs
Soon to pay dividends
For the nimble and resourceful
Tenants of the Woodland Guild.
There's a quiver of quills of feathery tails
As the squirrels brush up on stocks and shares -
Who's invested the what-s and the where-s?
Secret maps drawn in ledgers of lichens.
Arboreal advice given,
"We must maintain balance,
Reduce risk, but stay agile."
The squirrels of this midland bank listen,
They bustle and bristle.
Ears pricked, steady their nerve
Ready to go,
"Remember, time is your friend,
Impulse, your foe!"
Each squirrel a proud custodian
Of assets, ground hidden,
Hedgefunds.
A treasury of nuts and seed
Saved through thrift
In times of need,
Dug deep in the vaults of the earth.
Beech, pine, hazel and oak.
"We sit in these trees of plenty
Because of what squirrel folk planted before."
Then, with a scamper and flicker of tails,
They were gone.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Submerged in river’s hush~
the branch, once wind-tossed,
now cradled by silt,
its fingers trailing emerald ghosts.
• The President
• Cabinet
• Department under cabinet members
10112014
Judicial Branch of our government
Supreme Court
Legislative Branch of our government
Congress
President
Vice President
Cabinet
Jesus turned the other cheek
Now we extend the olive branch
During this special holiday season
Let us make peace
Open our hearts to those who have hurt us in the past
Can we live in Christ’s image?
Or will we decline to pass the peace pipe
Take this challenge
Tear down barriers that separate us
Unblock poets whose words left scars that need to heal
Add more dignity to Poetry Soup
Spread good will to all
As our Savior intended
While we celebrate His birthday
The branch is hanging…waiting for you to accept
*Entry to Audrey's "To Err Is Human, to Forgive Divine"
Merry Christmas to all!
The branch
Of the mighty
Oak tree
That hangs so free
All bent
The grey brownstone
On the corner of
110 and lex
Survive
And
the old
Haggard man
A Survivor
All bent
Points up
To the oak
While the young
Boy looks on
in
Reverence and hate
A reminder....
The Branch of Wisdom
Grows old
Dies
Falls on a little boys head
He opens his eyes
In a new way
For he has felt the weight of wisdom
Upon his shoulders