Potbound Poems | Examples


List of Member Poems

Too Much Alone


It stood alone potbound on a ledge -
wild and unapologetic. 
This proud,presumptuous flower
would wince
at the very prospect of a pollen grain molest,
or of an admiring glance -
taking it whole root to tip.
In the raw of a nature manifest.

And so it remains
anti-social,uncaring,arrogant.
Forgetting how to share itself.
Certainly no flighty sort
dare pollinate this flower
or scoop its nectar gone sour.
For its active role in creation -
better dead!

Without tribute,too much alone -
it withers gradual in a heap.
Its only spouse - the soil 
in bountiful riches once more,
absorbs the last dissolving leaf.
Inaction -  no falsifying now!
Forgotten without trace,without love.

Your Christmas Fir

Your Christmas fir was small and new,
When planted in the ground for you;
Once potbound, then its roots were free.
You stroked its branches, cuddled me:
I thought it felt like déjà vu.

I watched it as it slowly grew,
Though evergreen, its air was blue,
Not happy as it used to be,
Your Christmas fir.

Your love was dying, yes, I knew,
But what was I supposed to do?
Each time we fought, so sad to see,
All seemed reflected in the tree;
It turned to brown when we were through,
Your Christmas fir.

*The fir I'd planted started off well, but soon looked sorry for itself, and died after the relationship ended

Premium Member A New Day

It was far later than dawn
Even past those pastel morns
Sun being up and light bright
Reveal all__no shadows__

The roosters had crowed before
Now were almost silent__still
Birds had quieted__just rare chirp
In distance__ machinery noise

As I got comfortable
Noticed herbs looked wilted__ drooped
Checked to see if dry but not
They are__ totally potbound

Life__how many people are
Stuck__complacent__not growing
Soon will die from starvation
Just live a boring__stuck life

Just one change__out of the rut
Going a different route___walk
Take a camera along
One change__life becomes new__  grand


Premium Member Potbound

Coming out on the porch this morning after the sun had risen far above the horizon...I 
noticed that my herbs looked wilted.  Checked but not really dry just potbound or rootbound
in too small of a container..Life___how many of us are potbound or rootbound contained in a 
container that we outgrew years ago___stuck, complacent not growing and soon will die from
starvation because we can't receive the nourishment from the source of our total being the 
giver of life the One Who gives the Living Waters....In the next few days I will get larger 
pots, fresh soil, and remove those plants..distrub their roots...Repot them giving their root 
system room to grow..They will come out giving me fresh French Tarragon, and Lemon 
Thyme all summer..I will enjoy watching them grow and produce....What about me?  Will I 
get out of the pot that is too small and grow?

Looking for the formal definition, structure, and history of this poetry form? Visit the Poetry Dictionary entry below. Then return to explore how PoetrySoup members bring the form to life through their own poems.

Get a Premium Membership
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace