The Seedling

One night while I was dreaming,

A tree grew in my mind.

Though little but a seedling,

I took refuge in its pines.

 

On the morrow, cold and dreary, whilst walking through my thoughts,

My eyes stuck on a seedling, so I walked towards its lot.

Then my thoughts were thinking, "how strange, this could not be...

For I am in a city, yet this seedling grows on green!"

But O, I looked around me. I looked upon an open field!

Its as if my thoughts were running, through a mystery revealed.

I found my sanctuary, in the field my mind had found.

I took refuge in it's flowers, and the seedling's soothing sound.

I would visit this place often, the depths of thought and seed.

My thoughts had learned to think, and in those thoughts was peace.

 

 

That evening walking home, through the city, from the dreaming;

I felt like I was leaving from; my home, the field, the seedling.

I felt as if this city bound me, that I may never soar.

When a raven perched upon a bush, whispered to me, "nevermore".

 

--- 

 

That night I was the dreamer,

The tree grew more and more.

Its leaves forever greener,

Echo "nevermore".

 

Again whilst I was dreaming, I walked into the field,

The seedling now a gentle tree, a mystery revealed.

I slept upon its branches, and ate its fruit with ease.

I marveled in its aura, I listened to its leaves;

And then I knew the mystery, that had been revealed.

For it was in the leaves, and it was in the field.

As long as I was with them, I was as carefree as the breeze.

Nourished by their scent, I could live among the trees.

 

Now conscious, walking through the city, I took asylum in the thoughts.

I could not stay within this city, I needn't live for naught.

So in my mind, I left the city, went to the field where I could soar.

For now I understood, the city bound me nevermore;

And when I made this realization, the tree grew towards the sky.

Now a mighty fortress, and a beauty to the eye.

 

So now I walk the city, with conscious thought and word.

From my mighty fortress, leaves echoing the bird.

And in this sweet asylum, in this sacred lore;

There is a sweet raven, whisp'ring "nevermore"!

Author's Note

i meant for it to resemble "the raven" by edgar allen poe

i wrote this as kind of a tribute to that poem, but with enough originality to be my own you know :)

and i know that it does not fully make sense if you are thinking of it in a literal sense (seedlings dont have pines, nor would a tree that had pines have edible fruit); but this poem takes place in a dream and is meant as an escape from reality, so i did not feel the need to make it "accurate"

Reviews

[Fran Marie]

So now I walk the city, with conscious thought and word.

From my mighty fortress, leaves echoing the bird.

And in this sweet asylum, in this sacred lore;

There is a sweet raven, whisp'ring "nevermore"!



The indepth beauty of this poem just blows me away, John, indeed, very `Poeque` in its lovely poetic verse~am loving the seedling dream concept ofgrowing/ escaping into an enchanting forest/field feeling the surreal freedom from the stifleling reality of the city~Stunning Peice of Work!

[ABitBrokenPoetry]

this is a gorgeous write. the subtle flow is amazing. & the story is deep and beautiful. a really epic poem & a pleasure to read!

[Fabian G. Franklin]

Okay John, I read this one and my problem with it was the logical progression. I know you said it was a "dream" and dreams don't have to make sense. But although there are no talking ravens (that I know of) Poe's progression still makes sense. I also have a Poesque piece entitled, Angel of Selene. It has a recording on the page with it. The "pines" and the "flowers" really disturbed me because most of the poem was pretty good. But to imagine a single "seedling" with trrees growing out of it while it is still presumably about three inches tall is simply more than my imagination would stretch. Poe's talking blackbird was easy to envision by comparison. This would been better, " A tree grew in a dream, though little but a seedling I took refuge in the green". Like I said before, just my opinion. "Pines" are trees. The leaves of pines are "needles".

[Sorry Infamous]

I am a big fan of Poe, so I enjoyed the flow of this very much. It was chalk full of wonderful images and delightful metaphors... a beautiful dream world.

[J Carly]

Okay, let me just say that while it may have been a bit hard to follow if you ignore the reference to dreams, I LOVED IT!!! Our dreams do not often make sense, so there is no reason that you should have to explain why the seedling has pines, and the pine has edible fruit. That's like trying to explain The Cheshire Cat or the smoking caterpillar in Alice in Wonderland. It's a dream. It's symbolism. Not reality. The Raven is one of my favorite works of Poe, and in my humble opinion, you've written an excellent tribute here. I loved the rhythm, it was perfect. It's going in my favorites!

[Nancy Lee Shrader]

Congrats a second time on your great winning Poem!

[Butch Decatoria]

Good work, enjoy your rhyme schemes, rhythm is excellent. Your dream is (I am assuming) that seedling and possibly yet to flourish or come to life. I have a piece I had written called "The Parable of The Tree"--will post it here one day and let you know. If we were trees ourselves, a forest of people, we would not have so many conflicts--especially since all we would need is shared from sky to soil, and no opinions or talk of politics or god would be uttered, a word. Trees have the possibilities to live forever if unhindered, just "being" itself breathing life from the breath of ours lives, simply standing to watch the sun and the theatre that is heaven.
Thanks for sharing this.

~~Butch Decatoria (PFluffer :: Cassidy)

[Nancy Lee Shrader]

Congrats on your great winning poem!

[Ama May Cooper]

thin kths is avery good representation in a strange round abotuway of the raven .. i liked this piece. the way a tree would blossom in your mind

[George Love]

A very fitting tribute style and work. You captured the essence of The Raven in tis one. Well done.

[Two Friends]

This is amazing...i love it
Great Job