Chopping Down a Tree

My love life, described as trees. Clever, right?

I have my ax,

My purpose is set.

Off to the woods

To chop down a tree:

Partly for want,

Partly for need.

 

I approach a thin Aspen.

Whack! It falls with one swing

Of my happy ax.

Gathered up in my arms

To be carried home for December,

But it didn’t last me November.

Burned up fast;

It was kindling.

 

Moving further in

I see a different tree.

It’s at half-life and

Infected with disease.

An Ash with a fire inside

Burning. Burning are

All of the bugs it hides.

I’m tempted to cut it down

To put it out of its own misery.

It wouldn’t make good wood for me.

It wouldn’t make good wood for me.

As I try,

I cannot try hard enough.

My ax is dull,

My arms are beat,

My stomach rumbles.

There’s a longing.

 

Deep in, I find a clearing.

I lay down with those green pins

Poking my skin.

I’m about to become blind:

I’m ready for slumber.

But before I can close,

I open wide.

The Sun has left

And I see behind me

A tree taller than all the rest.

 

I rise, and I stand before

A Redwood: ages and ages into the sky.

Roots burrowed down in the earth:

Giving life to a head that’s wise.

 

It’s perfect.

 

I lift up my ax to

Chop down the titan,

But I stop.

It would take me forever (an eternity!)

To chop down this tree.

 

I think, but no thoughts enter my head.

I’m in the presence of the Lord’s creation.

Silenced, I am.

 

I stare at the Redwood before me

And am baffled by its beauty.

Its richness in color

And luster make a feast

For my eyes.

Its branches a paradise.

 

I gaze at the Redwood before me

And I see that it is wise

Beyond its years; an old soul, indeed.

Its love for the life around

Brings up something I believed

Was dead in me.

 

I sit with the tree warming my back

And I am still.

 

I have my ax,

My purpose is set.

To be beside this beautiful,

wise tree.

Mostly for love,

Mostly to be set free.

Reviews

[Mathias Winters]

the poem tells a story that is very interesting. I don't usually come across a poem that tells a story. It almost reminds me of "Daffodils". The ideas in the poem are great, starting with destroying the weak tree, attempting to destroy the diseased one, and then leaving the strong and wise one alone. I love the ideas that are presented here. The only problem I have with it is that it has parenthesis attached to some of the phrases. Take those out. The lines that have these seem very important, and should not be declared as extra.

[The Girl with the smile]

An absolutely beautiful poem! Nature is magnificent, trees especially. Great write! It warms my heart.