Poem: Tilt No More

[alee_grrl]

Written for poetree Weekly Challenge #1. Note to judge: this poem is not eligible to win since author is a comm admin. Concrit eagerly sought.

They chopped down the lazy tree last Friday.
Its long low limbs so wide and inviting
no longer offer shelter to Sunday picnickers
and afternoon nappers. Gone is the shady
respite dog walkers and joggers enjoyed.
The quiet spot for a summer read;
the nesting place for children;
my wise old friend, my leaning tree,
my lazy tree, nevermore.
Your remains paved over;
an asphalt scar admonishes us--
return to productivity
no further laziness will be tolerated.
Creators, talkers, readers, walkers
players and singers no longer welcome
unless you fit into the machine,
color only between these lines.
Lazy dreamers, questing thinkers,
tilting at windmills, nevermore.

ETA: Fixed/cleaned up punctuation.

Comments

[sulien]

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I always hate losing a beautiful tree, it's like losing a dear relative and friend. Beautiful, very affecting and sad poem.

[alee_grrl]

Thank you. Loosing a beautiful old tree is always a sad thing, especially is it isn't necessary. If the tree was dying or had fallen and torn up its roots, that is part of the cycle and sad but understandable. It's when we cut down gorgeous trees for parking lots and progress that gets me. When I read the opening line in the first line challenge over at poetree I knew this was the poem that I had to write.

[untonuggan]

That's beautiful and so relevant to me, as when I move I fear whoever moves in is going to be chopping down some of our trees...

[alee_grrl]

I'm so glad you found it beautiful. Thank you. It's so sad when folks chop down trees (particularly for no reason). Friends of mine recently had to thin some of their trees so they could put in a new septic (the old one went cablooie and was not up to current code, so new leach field was needed, which meant making room for it), however my friend worked with the land and there is now a shine to Venus Cloacina over the new septic. The trees that had to be cut are now curing and will go to help heat their home (they heat only with wood) in future winters. What grieves me is the loss of green space in urban and suburban areas. I'm thrilled to see green reclamation projects like The High Line Park in New York. These are the spaces that encourage us to dream.

[untonuggan]

What gives me hope now is that we are taking cuttings of our favorite trees and seeing if we can get them to root so that we can take them with us, in a way. Our fig tree is a delicious variety, and has sentimental attachments; I grew up with the Japanese maple in the front; etc.

My mom also ordered a new variety of quince to plant in the new place, wherever that may be. So if our current space becomes less green (due to building of a giant house), we at least have the solace that the new living space will soon become a backyard wildlife habitat.

[alee_grrl]

I hope that all of your cuttings do take root. It is always wonderful to be able to carry some of the old with you into the new.

[ariestess]

Oh, I really like this one. The imagery is beautiful, and the phrasing flows really nicely for me.

[alee_grrl]

Thank you!

[lynnoconnacht]

T-T That is such a sad, sad poem. T-T And very beautiful, but mostly it is very sad. <3

[alee_grrl]

::hands tissues:: It is a really sad poem. Written during a very rough few weeks. I'm glad you found it beautiful, even though it is very sad. Thank you for the comments. It's always nice to know what people think of my writing.