Willow Wisdom

A poetic story, Where I'm taking a rest in the midst of having a toubled day where nothing goes right... then confiding in the old wisdom of a willow tree in a dream.

 

Willow Wisdom

By: Lalli

 

 

It was one of those days when...nothing goes right

When the light from the sun is shadowed by the moon during mid-afternoon by a solar eclipse

No matter how hard I’d try

The only thing I’d find was disappointment

Or upsetting news that would make any day gloom

So I went for a walk to gather my thoughts to cool myself down from feelin’ hot and bothered

Of course I was distracted by my misery and forgot to bring water

A little dehydrated and exhausted

It was time to stop and rest under the willow tree

Time to take a deep breathe and relax with my back against the bark of its trunk

This is when I sunk into the lucid fantasies of my sleep

It was one of those vivid dreams, where all interactions feel like reality

And this…this is when the tree began to speak to me

 

It said “Young man, as you sit on the grass above my veins

I can feel your energy through my roots

So I wanted to ask you, Why are you so weary?”

 

Being that I was lost in the surrealism of this dream

It didn’t feel odd that I was about to have a conversation with a willow tree

 

As I responded by stating, “I appreciate your caring inquisition

But before I share with you my troubles old soul

I hope through the wisdom of your age that you may help me since it’s apparent I’m stuggling this day”

The tree agreed with a calming bristling of its leaves as it waited patiently for me to speak

 

I began telling the tree,

“I’m tired

Tired of fighting the same battle for years

I’m mentally exhausted and I don’t think my eyes can cry anymore tears

My tear ducts are dry

And so is the mile deep well that tapped into the river of my life

In fact I feel like I fell to its bottom

Now I’m starin through it’s darkness to the sky wonderin’ why I’m so tired

Tired of feeling the burn of lactic acid in my muscles

Tired of being over worked and under paid

And I hope that one day someone will unchain me in the name of liberty from being this modern day work slave

Because I’m tired

Tired of my fears causing pain

Tired of the strain from my heart wrenching when it breaks

With my emotions locked behind a cage desensitizing my feelings keeping myself contained

Hidden away

I’m scared of being vulnerable

Afraid to lose control or whatever false sense of it, I thought I had

 

I continued by saying, “Tree I appreciate you asking but what I’m sayin’ is,

I’m exasperated

Jaded from always having to be the strengthened support

I'm drained from bearing the weight as the keystone in the center of the arch

Holding it together or it will all fall apart

And I’m just not sure how much longer I can continue being tired

I just wish there was a better way

I wish I could share this with you staring face to face

But I can’t because I’m weak

Weak without enough strength to stand to my feet

So I’m stretching my hand in the air to you now tree

That you will be able to help me stand strong once more”

 

This is when a serene breeze gently pressed as a finger against my lips to stop talking

As the fingernail of the eclipse disappeared

I then realized that I felt comforted under the cover of its branches

Then a gust of wind blew through parting the leaves like 2 clouds drifting apart in the middle revealing a window to the other side

The tree then asked me if I could see the beauty of what seemed like an enchanted forest lushly green growing up a snow-capped mountain naturally

I answered, “Yes, yes I do and I have to admit my friend it’s absolutely breathe-taking”

I was then asked If I would have enough energy to take a closer look, knowing what is there

I said, “Yes tree, yes I think it would be worth using what little energy I have left”

This is when I realized the enlightening power from the extensive wisdom of the tree as it told me,

“You see my weary friend, before you could not see beyond my shaded fortress

But when the time was right and all the elements synchronized

You were provided a glimpse of what awaits you if you choose to seek it and keep pressing on

If you keep fighting with all your might, then eventually you will get there

As you can see it will not be easy because there’s much distance between here and there

but as you said it would be worth using what little energy you have left

So get up, never give up

You don’t need my help

You just need to have confidence, faith in the natural balance of life

And when you're surrounded by darkness torn in the eerie loneliness of isolation

Remember, that light reflects a rainbow

At the end of the storm.”

 

After the conversation was concluded with the tree

When I came back to reality Opening my eyes, I no longer felt tired

Actually I felt energized and rejuvenated with a new outlook on my life

So upon reflection of the truth I was told

I've got to say, I couldn’t have agreed with that tree any more

 

Reviews

[Bennett Logan]

I can almost hear how this would sound as spoken word, and I enjoyed it. It's a good story, and I appreciate the moral behind it. Truly. So many people get so caught up in a multitude of smaller issues, in the moment, and are effectively unable to step back and take in the bigger picture. Clearly the narrator of this piece has been able to do just that. Overall, it's a good poem and you have a strong narrative voice. Have a good one, sir, and definately keep up the good work.

Brilliant. I love that you wrote a poem about a willow tree. My favorite kind of tree, by the way.

[Helena]

I just love that old willow tree. So wise, like an old sage.
Beautiful visions evoked in this write. Bravo!

Helena

[Periac]

lalli awesome ......i got a great feeling after reading through this.....in a way i might have had this conversation word for word before.......i applaud the honesty in delivering such profound thoughts and thank you for the read

[[untitled]]

When I was little I always thought a willow tree looked sad. But I guess you saw it completely different. Good write

[Damian Alan Gray]

It's a bit of a departure from your norm, and I give appreciative applause for that. Sticking with the same-old-same-old can get ... well, old. Have you considered turning this into a short story in itself? I understand that you are a poet by nature - and an outstanding one at that - but consider the dimensions that a narrative fiction could hold. Not that Willow Wisdom is bad in any way as it is. In fact, I quite loved the emotionalism that it brought forth. I just wonder about the extent to which you could bring this poem, should you ever decide to incorporate it into a short story. I think it would make for an even more fascinating read.

[shadadakiya]

wow that was amazing i loved it so awesome what a great write i love it thank you for sharing kinda like God was talking trough that weeping willow i love it!!!

[Dani California]

Lalli, your timing could not have been better!
My goodness my friend, this is an absolutely stunning
and inspirational piece. I am so blown away by your
ability to turn grey skies blue from one min to the next!
Everytime I read your work, I leave feeling stronger,
happier... better!

"
"You see my weary friend, before you could not see beyond my shaded fortressBut when the time was right and all the elements synchronizedYou were provided a glimpse of what awaits you if you choose to seek it and keep pressing onIf you keep fighting with all your might.... "

Word!!! lol

I'm adding this to my favorites!
I should have come by earlier... I could
have spared myself a few grey skies....!

I would say this is more of a story than a poem Lall..

Awesome!

[M@]

A rockin piece, and a nice change of pace from your normal work. This reads much more like a story moreso than a poem, insofar that it seems much more narrative than poetic. That shouldn't suggest that that debunks this piece from being amazing, but that if you wanted to write a story about this piece, you'd find it remarkably easy to accomplish.

However, I did notice throughout your calling card slant rhymes and off beats that truly define a very rhythmic, dynamic, and fast-flowing roller-coasting experience that can only bring out the true potential of this piece once heard. And once again, I leave you another review expressing me being bummed out for not being able to hear it.

I also agree with Angelic Darkness in that this piece is very spiritual; it seems more like a parable than a story/narrative poem. I'm not entirely sure what a Willow Tree represents in the language of flowers/trees, but they do have a certain wisdom to them don't they? Much like a grumpy or slightly tired old man who lives in the middle of town everyone's afraid of, such wisdom's in plain sight but oft overlooked.

A well done piece, I truly enjoy reading/reviewing your work as it's always different from the one I read before.

[Beka]

This story gave me such a since of relief as I read it.
Like a great weight was lifted off my shoulders.
So wise...
So brilliant.
Your writing talent is all your own and completely amazing.
I do believe the day you stop writing is the day a good lot of the world stops reading.