Best Cottonwood Poems
pink catkins
of eastern cottonwood-
happy offspring
tree flowering
in the sun-
beaver waits patiently
moon shines
upon her coral blossoms-
cricket chirps
fluffing silver leaves
cottonwood steadies herself
glittering my heart.
A lone cottonwood tree stands on the rolling Colorado plain.
A rippling stream flows nearby, its existence to sustain.
Its lofty branches reach for the pristine Colorado sky.
Tho' badly scarred, the ravages of time it continues to defy.
I tarry 'neath its welcoming shade to muse about its past.
For a century or more it has witnessed the passage of time so vast.
Why did this sturdy sentry survive when others fell away,
Yet, shedding a blizzard of cottony snow each ensuing May?
I wonder if it was a landmark beacon for hardy pioneers,
As they traveled e'er westward seeking new frontiers.
Perhaps a patrol of cavalry paused 'neath its welcome shadow,
To take respite from their weary trek across the sere plateau.
Scars remain where buffalo scratched their hides upon its bole.
I suspect that it was a sanctuary for graceful antelope on patrol.
I could imagine a majestic eagle perched atop its aerie,
Reposing from its search for prey across the endless prairie.
Rustling leaves startled me from my nostalgic reverie.
Were phantoms of the past gathering about this very special tree?
I felt as tho' God considered this solitary tree renowned.
I respectfully withdrew, sensing I'd intruded upon sacred ground!
Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired (© All Rights Reserved)
Gentle white flowers
Drifting in spring sky:
My eyes itch
Cottonwood now sports purple blossom
Open faces sun seeds entomb
Total beauty in nature's landscape
Thanksgiving to God for escape
Opened heart to receive beauty
Now refreshed return to duty
Wonder how many passed that tree
Obliterated to even see
Open my eyes_heart Lord each day
Do let opportunities pass my way
(Obliterated here used to means
wiped out ...)
Poplar Cottonwood haiku-
songbirds nest courtships
mice, rabbits, deer eat bark leaves
mighty Cottonwood
broad triangular
cotton-like seeds grows 139 foot tree
are those leaves 6 inches
poplar Cottonwood
tallest trees in Nebraska
great plains Cottonwood
4/29/18
written words by James Edward Lee Sr.
Copyright © 2018
From anthology “Sound Track For My Life” 2018©
viceroy butterfly
dancing
on the tips
of cottonwood
dreams
tumbling
in the
spiritual air
your seamless
wings are
slicing through
the wind
mimicking
royal blue
sky
We hid in the cottonwood tree’s magic treehouse.
Spying on our neighbors.
Laughter rang out occasionally from the windows of some of their houses.
We clutched our stomachs and laughed.
Mr. Pete gave his wife a big hug at their house.
We all went, Oh, yucky!
We were eleven, and loved the height of our tree mansion.
Feeling like detectives, or FBI agents.
Eleven is such a magical time.
We used to haul all kinds of pillows up there.
It was my reading nook. On reading days, I was
off with pirates, or Pippi Longstocking, and we
were on the sea, which I had never seen
in real life,
but imagined
was quite
wonderful.
You can never get 11
back, so please enjoy it!
Grandmother Cottonwood’s leaves glistened.
Shaking their silver sides against the breeze.
Glossy and pointedly sculpted, a few listened.
As her main twig rolled up his sleeve.
I had not seen a talking tree since Babes in Toyland.
Expected some marching and a mariachi band.
The woods were unnaturally quiet and stark still.
North wind providing a coldish autumn chill.
Many years have passed, many a day gone at length.
Since that delta farm and that old pump from which I drank.
Its water clear and cool flowing from a spring,
gone, are those faded years yet, to the memories, I cling
Now, only thoughts of those long fields
from the cottonwood tree where I rest,
That summer sun on my brow, and on my mind impressed.
Here under this old tree this poem I now compose,
Lines to that summer sun and to those cotton rows.
The old house is gone now, cotton grows where it stood.
The only thing that marks the spot, this ragged old cottonwood.
I sit here in silence and gaze at the setting sun,
I hear over there, a ripple of water, where The Cold Water River runs.
A picture of past years now, gone like a morning mist.
The ghost of a life that puts my soul at rest.
In the mind of this man sitting where a boy once stood,
I put my pen to paper under the limbs of the cottonwood.
Therefore, let the moon shine over those fields of white,
Let the wind blow against my cheeks on this mystic night.
Let my dreams take me back to a time when I stood,
Gazing over fields of cotton from the shade of the cottonwood.
Hid beneath the Cottonwood,
My deepest sympathies withstood,
Hearts desires, a world unknown,
Whispers in the horizon intone.
Wind surpasses the enchanting song,
Life beyond all can lone belong,
Inspiration in color of shade,
As the suns’ arms stray arrayed.
Stone and steeple, every deed,
Faith alone, the sound soul is freed,
Steps through along my time,
Golden Staircase I praise to climb.
Judgment Day I embrace,
His decision, His worthy grace,
My choice, His say,
My life forever in His hands today.
“I am unworthy,” I said.
“I love those who love me,” and let this be read. – Proverbs 8:17
Receive my word, tell those who defy,
Under this Emerald, shed a tear, I cry.
Tears of joy My God,
Angels in heaven choir abroad,
Rejoice! Rejoice! In my name I say, - Romans 12:15
My life forever in His hands today.
The tree, from sin, it shall shade,
Comfort in Heaven again I may.
His name, His son, there they stood,
Waiting for me hidden beneath the Cottonwood.
pink catkins
of eastern cottonwood-
happy offspring
tree flowering
in the sun-
beaver waits patiently
moon shines
upon her coral blossoms-
cricket chirps
chasing sandcastles and
singing church steeples
spring is the heart of God
and
i
know
spring is a cottonwood
Mighty Autumn Cottonwood
lustrous bright green
windbreaks shadow providing
leaves as wide as a hand waving
trees asset in wildlife
PENSEE Poetry Form
9/28/19
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr. ©2019
perfect mate nearby
wind scatters cottony tufts-
a summer snowfall
8/20/2019
Howmanysyllables 5-7-5
Poetry Contest: Tree Themed Haiku
Sponsored by: Tania Kitchin