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!

[GirlPower66]

Wow, that was excellent!!! Best poem I have ever read on this website. I would e-mail this to everybody I know :]

Keep up the great work :D

[Havatara]

Oh my goodness, this was amazing! At first I thought that it WAS Poe who had written it, and considering Poe is my favorite poet, that's just fantastic. I hope to read more of your work!!

[Perry]

Mann this one is right up there with Edgar Allen Poe's "The Raven," it is an amazing story and extremely well written, like something out of a classic poetry book or literature book. You were right this was definitely something I should read. Excellent piece of work, luvs it!

[Sasavet]

I was just going to say this reminded me a lot of "the raven" by Edgar Allen Poe, but I see now that was your intention :) It was well noticed and I thought it was very interesting. Good Write :)

[VintageHottie]

Lovely work!!!
I loved how you wrote this in tribute to Edgar Allen Poe!!

Congrats on winning the anything contest, this deserved to place first ;)

[LJW]

Awesome. Congrats on your win!

[Sean M. Addams]

I can definitly see the Poe influence in this.... imagery is good and flow of this perfect... thanks for entering this... a very worthy piece....

[Starting Over]

Another brillent work Mr. McGrael

[ElizabethAnn]

dude. so, i am a little bit more amazed every time i read something of yours. i think this is my favorite of yours that i've read, but my favorite poem is most definitely the raven, so that makes sense. i love the sounds in this--it is dreamy and "raven-esce." love it! it's interesting that you have this--my poem, "forever lying with annabel lee" is also a sort of tribute to poe. same sounds and tone, but a different story, like this. great piece.