The cascading contours of the verdant mountain slope
hold me, an upstanding cone of coniferous jade spruce
with waxy leaves that I turn into needles on the boughs.
When young I stand erect in the shade of the taller trees,
but soon I go up fast to outgrow them under the sun.
Cinnabar glaze I get from the crimson gleam of twilight,
my senses shiver in the winter chill freezing the needles.
The sparkle of joy shines on me in the cheerful night,
when I go for the festival of merriment to a happy home
as a Christmas tree decorated with the sapphire stars.
In the mountains of Dalarna, Sweden; I grow
There are a few things about me, I thought that you should know
I've been around for a very long time
And "Old Tjikko" is also a nickname of mine
I am the oldest known tree to ever survive
Nine thousand five hundred fifty-seven years- and I'm still alive
Husband and wife Leif Kullman and Lisa Oberg went to explore
That's when they discovered me in two thousand four
They named me after their late dog, "Old Tjikko" was his name
Being the oldest living tree in the world- I've gained my fame
Said the last goodbye,
Leaving us, as old rye,
Taking you, Earth withers,
And I am left in shivers.
Tears flow in eyes,
The driest ones; wept,
Grays are the skies,
The wind, no longer kept.
Children shall be told,
Reminiscent they'll be,
Before they grow cold,
That's how time does be.
Tales, rumours,
I shall dismiss them all,
As long as i live,
I shall know you.
Time, shan't take you away,
The son of the wind,
Oh! How you did sway!
But their chains did bind.
The very air,
Enclosed in glass walls,
They didn't care,
And ignored all your calls.
Wild spirits at ease,
Like streams never cease,
Slow them, change their ways,
Leaving them no longer a maze.
All the smiles, all the tears,
Now go away, as they came,
Going away in shame,
Where are your prayers?
I stand beside the gravestone,
Tear stained and weary,
Nothing now is known,
Everything feels so eerie.
The rain comes,
takes away,
Something i can't point out,
Its all too loud.
Silence is worse than screaming,
Nothing nothing at all, in feeling,
And then I see,
A bud on a a spruce tree.
dead spruce tree branches
cradle robin's perfect nest
keeping safe the eggs
Red House and Spruce by Edvard Munch
Snug, in a blue bunting of hibernation,
Red cottage
In a clearing of indigo and ice spruce
That form ribs of protection from
From hues of ill winds,
As a leafless birch backbone
Spreads a protective circle,
Sentinels of secrets
Behind the hidden crimson door
When eventide’s crystal constellations
Of fallen cerulean white snows
Sleep in solitude
As Aurora lingers above ash and aspen
In glowing neon passion values
Sheltered scarlet hearth and heart
Slumbers in tones of a Nordic cradle song
And winsome memories of a mountain king
In snowfall’s language of winter
Of painted cobalt shadows
Surrounding a red house.
I saw the maples;
Chattering with the spruce;
Sparrows awaken;
Squirrels recused;
Running rapid;
Are those rabbits;
Dogs chasing still the cat up the tree;
God where are all the honey bees;
By the grave I saw the maples;
The lonely liquidambar leafing;
I felt obliged to admire the Rameses;
~
The bur oak smiled;
As the trees of all kinds;
Lo! The sun dials;
Waves with the wind in the skies;
Do just only the butterflies mind;
For the maple leaves fallen down;
By the grave I saw the maples;
Onto the grounds are browned and dead;
The lonely liquidambar leafing;
Tree, tree, trees;
Memories;
Dread;
~
Homeless one I am;
I guess under their shade I’ll be sleeping;
Living off the land;
Alone sleeping;
7/6/21
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr. ©2021
I sit at the large window,
Gaze and see the prolific spruces.
They are my favorite twin trees,
Tall and shapely.
A beautiful spruce green,
They have been my favorite tree.
I think of the tree in the living-room.
Of our exquisite house.
Decorated with lights and ornaments,
Some homemade.
This brings much happiness and friendship,
Days of Christmas where the relatives meet.
Santa Claus appears with his sled and reindeer,
He has a bag of presents in his sack.
Here to wish everyone a "Merry Christmas",
His elves stand nearby to facilitate the giving of the presents.
A traditional celebration each year.
Blessings of our God, appreciated by everyone.
Author: Gwen von Erlach Schutz
In my front yard lives a sycamore tree that of late seems to have it in for me. A pristine giant with a white colored bark that's constantly shedding and falling apart. I've always admired this glorious tree until it began hurling branches at me. It's tree parts keep dropping from one hundred feet. I'm not quite prepared, my maker to meet. It would only take one swift hit to the noggin to cause my whole world to go a foggin. This sycamore and I need a "live and let live" truce or this awesome tree may have to soon be a less aggressive blue spruce.
white keys of birch trees
black keys of spruces and pines -
music of twilight
8.20.2019
One Haiku Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Rick Parise
Syllables Per Line: 5 7 5
I’m in my mind
but after being out of mine.
You found the guy I hide.
So eyes are pealed for rustic stays.
I will bag up what you planted for me
just to give you, your better days.
For you I saved.
Now my spending’s grandiose.
Sunshine and showers.
2/17/18 'Sunshine and Showers' Contest
Sponsor: Robert Haigh
Poet: Ken Jordan
Poem: Dying Blue Spruce Tree
Edited by: Sparkle Jordan
written: May/2017
Now that April has faded behind
the golden Sun of spring -
It leaves a sickle that time writhe
unforgiving -
Thou perpetrators cast shadows
leaving it's dark remnants,
to thou
limbs vernal youth;
clinging to branches parched, gone
brittle -
Summer will surely forsake thee -
to thy waterless rest!
Once thy mirrored a rose - alluring .....
captivating!
stands deceased -
Thy blue silver tone ascended to the
moon in the pale eyesight of the sky.
The living beauty of thy appeal -
now life deny.
Copyright (c)., Ken Jordan, 2017
I saw you up ahead
By yourself
Off to the side
In the still brown winter grass
Scales tightly woven
At the tip
Releasing only halfway
The nearest pinetree
Over 100 metres away
A Squirrel surely brought
You this far and gave up
Now you will survive
Among my family
Of Lake Superior
Rocks and driftwood
Abandoned birdnests
And other found
Forest orphans
Forever
Loved
02/22/17
Here be the descendents of potent fairies
glowing leaves , thistles sewn
Petals glimpse wan proof
Resplendent features garb of petals beings
Mortals said to have white mice
Small villages strange, By birch and spruce trees
Wooden pallidness, mist golden silvery hair blown
Greatest treasures Leshia
Souls who shall travel
Hidden in glens so thick
Howling dewiness,legends tell
Listen on the innocuous nigh
deciduous tree
limbs bristle in winter wind
ever green fortress
Blue Spruce Standing Tall
Clothed In Snow, Sky's Purest White
Shielding Life Beneath.
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