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OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa

0 posted 2011-02-12 01:37 AM



HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A TREE?
11 February 2011

Have you ever seen a tree?

Yes, that is exactly what I said.
You have?  Of course?
So,

what colour was the trunk?
Brown?
Grey?
Yellow-green?

And
how many lights and shades
of brown
or grey
or yellow-green
or other splendour on God’s palette
did the trunk
parade?

I haven’t started
on her limbs
or her natural decorations
or her shape
or her dignity
or her mood
or her wind dance
. . . yet.

I say again,
Have you ever seen a tree?

Owl

© Copyright 2011 Diana van den Berg - All Rights Reserved
Richy
Member Elite
since 2003-05-03
Posts 3050

1 posted 2011-02-12 02:31 AM



How nice to see someone else see such beauty all around us.


2islander2
Member Ascendant
since 2008-03-12
Posts 6825
by the sea
2 posted 2011-02-12 06:34 AM


hi Owl, this is a splendid poem to my eyes, one that marks the mind because of the subtle lesson it carries : LEARN TO WATCH  A TREE (it inspires me an other poem right now, i am gonna write an other  poem called ???? with this sentence now)  Thanks for the delicious exchange.

yann

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
3 posted 2011-02-12 07:16 AM


Thank you for your lovely reply, Yann.  I am looking forward to reading your new poem.  I saw its title sitting there inviting me in.  I am off to read it now.

Owl

JerryPat2
Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975
South Louisiana
4 posted 2011-02-12 08:08 AM


Yes, I have seen a tree, and moved on, tthe colors and breath of it lodged within my memory bank for future reference.

~ There's nothing worse than desiring more than you are desired.--Justine Cook / "Portrait" ~

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
5 posted 2011-02-12 08:12 AM


Thanks, Jerry.  Glad you understand.

Owl

secondhanddreampoet
Member Ascendant
since 2006-11-07
Posts 6394
a 'Universalist' !
6 posted 2011-02-12 01:30 PM


well 'penned' ... well said!

                            Trees

            I THINK that I shall never see
            A poem lovely as a tree.
            
            A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
            Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;
            
            A tree that looks at God all day,
            And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
            
            A tree that may in Summer wear
            A nest of robins in her hair;
            
            Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
            Who intimately lives with rain.
            
            Poems are made by fools like me,
            But only God can make a tree.

                      --- Joyce Kilmer

Spiros Zafiris
Senior Member
since 2002-10-20
Posts 982
Canada
7 posted 2011-02-12 05:51 PM


..Owl, i love tree poems..and this one was a treat..!

..spiros
-------
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OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
8 posted 2011-02-13 03:39 AM


Thank you, Bruce.  I enjoyed very much Joyce Kilmer’s twist on the original, called, I think something like "Loveliest of Trees".  

Thank you, Spiros, for your kind words.

Owl

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
9 posted 2011-02-16 07:53 PM


Thank you, Richy.  I am glad you do too.

Owl

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