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Joyce Johnson
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Washington State

0 posted 2007-01-08 07:51 PM


A Friend's Demise

I recall when my new husband, first
Showed me the tree with pride;
As a small part of the heritage
He'd share with his new bride.
He said his grandpa planted it,
Marking where the road would go
Between his land and the neighbor's
A full century ago.
This sentinel has stood there
Through the ensuing years,
While the family has battled on
In happy times and tears.
Forty years since I first saw it
On the corner of the place,
And it became just as familiar
As my own, now well lined face.
My husband, his dad and grandpa
Have departed, one by one.
I thought the fir would still be standing
When my own race had been run.
The bitter storms of winter
Have combined to take their toll;
Stripped the tree of branch and needles,
Wore it down to naked pole.
Then one final blast of weather,
As the wind blew sixty miles,
Pulled the proud tree from its moorings
Leaving it in splintered piles.
This morning, the bald eagle
Who has used it for a perch,
Paused for one bewildered moment
Before continuing her search
For another place to settle
As she looked for easy prey
Among the flocks of wild ducks
That are feeding here today.
She found a mighty cedar
In the grove they'd planted for
A windbreak for the house and barn
Seventy years ago or more.
She forgot about the fir tree
When she found a spot she'd like;
Espied a morsel for her dinner
And descended for a strike.

Our childen all have moved on
To where weather's not so grim
And they tell me I should join them;
Leave this place I shared with him.
I cannot bear to abandon
All the dreams we two had shared,
And the pastures and the woodlands
For which so many good men cared.
I will ask my hired helper
On this old neglected farm
To cut the fir tree into fire logs
For a fire to keep me warm.

By: Joyce Johnson 1/8/07

© Copyright 2007 Joyce I Johnson - All Rights Reserved
midnightblues
Senior Member
since 2000-07-01
Posts 1597
Singapore
1 posted 2007-01-08 09:49 PM


Oh Joyce,

Vivid story albeit a sad one.. I like

Love,
MiCheLLe

If there cannot be equal in affection, then let the one with more be me - midnightblues

Trillium
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Member Patricius
since 2001-03-09
Posts 12098
Idaho, USA
2 posted 2007-01-08 11:15 PM


Dear Joyce:  A fitting memorial to a splendid tree!  It's always so sad to see them go. At least it did no damage to your house or buildings in going.  We too have had terrible winds. Up to 79 mph and have lost major branches off of many of our trees but none of them have hit the house.
The yard is a littered mess right now.
I hope you stay safe through the winter, as I understand more of these storms are in store for us.

Love
Betty Lou

Betty Lou Hebert

cynicsRus
Senior Member
since 2003-06-06
Posts 591
So Cal So Cool!
3 posted 2007-01-09 04:42 PM


Joyce,
This was quite touching. I would have hoped you wouldn't burn all the firewood completely though: Perhaps save the best part of it and have a good woodworker either build a nice little shelf or carve something out of it--to pass along to the grandkids. :)


Songbird
Member Elite
since 1999-12-15
Posts 2184
Missouri
4 posted 2007-02-05 03:53 PM


Life is so filled with changes but somethings keep us grounded. Enjoyed the poem very much.. I would however go to where there is not so much snow. I'm a fair weather bird!
Vincent
Member
since 2007-02-03
Posts 52

5 posted 2007-02-06 01:42 PM


this write is so touching, I`ve read it over and over. excelllent.   Vincent
Marge Tindal
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since 1999-11-06
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Florida's Foreverly Shores
6 posted 2007-02-06 02:05 PM


Joyce~
I can't imagine how I missed this ... but, I've found it now~

Awwwwwwwwwww ... here we are of the "tree-huggers's" society ... so I can well imagine your loss~

And now didn't Cynics Rus have a GREAT IDEA ?

"have a good woodworker either build a nice little shelf or carve something out of it--to pass along to the grandkids"

'We' do happen to know such a woodcarver, don't we ?

*HUGLETS*
~*Marge*~

~*The sound of a kiss is not as strong as that of a cannon, but it's echo endures much longer*~
Email -             noles1@totcon.com

jody5
Senior Member
since 2005-12-21
Posts 876
California, U.S.A.
7 posted 2007-02-06 06:21 PM


One of the most touching poems I have read in a long time Joyce.

   Hugs Kimberly


JeffD
Junior Member
since 2007-02-06
Posts 28
CT
8 posted 2007-02-06 10:34 PM


Wow that was really touching.  I really liked it.
Alison
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Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy!
9 posted 2009-06-14 04:08 PM


Joyce,

Sometimes I think there is a reason that I search through the older poems.  It's as if I am looking for something and don't really know what it is I am seeking.

I have been seeking this poem. My family had two tall spruce trees that we called the "Sentinels" (we named everything).  My mother loved those trees - all four girls had their play houses under them and my brother and sisters (not me, I am afraid of heights) would climb to the tops and ride with the winds.

When I was almost leaving home - a windstorm blew my favorite one down.  It was my parent's anniversary.  A sad one for my Mother.  The second tree supported part of the first and my father tried to convince my mother that it was best to cut it away so it would not rot the second Sentinal.  She could not let him.

When my brother died, my father climbed the remaining Sentinel and placed his cowboy boots in the branches.

No one lives down there any longer.  The second tree has long since fallen too.  I was there this spring and looked at the remains of the second tree - it still holds the fishing float swing we would play on.

Two trees are growing close by - they are too young to be honored with the name "Sentinels" but they said they will work hard to live up to that name some day.

Thank you.  I am done reading for the day because you handed me what I needed and I feel your love.

With love to you,
Alison

Joyce Johnson
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Washington State
10 posted 2009-06-15 07:00 PM


Oh Sweet Alison.  I am so glad you found this if it eased your soul and brought back sweet memories.  That is the job of poetry I think and sometimes it fufils destiny.  Love, Joyce
Alison
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Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy!
11 posted 2009-06-15 11:58 PM


I agree, Joyce -- and you are among my favorite poets in PiP for that reason.  You write the stories of life.

xoxoxo
Alison

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