The Song of Trees

Can you hear the song of trees breathing life into our world?

The rainforest, the community of Trees!

 

 

Preface

 

A poem inspired by the Albert’s Café Contest: “When the trees sing, what really matters is knowing that the trees are singing at all." (UNOFFICAL ENTRY)  The inspiration of the contest was a poem of Mattie J. T. Stepanek, a boy that was an accomplished poet and who died at a very young age, just 3 weeks shy of his fourteenth birthday.  Here is the poem that is the inspiration for the contest:

 

          When the trees sing,

          It doesn’t really matter

          If you know the song,

          Or if you know the words,

          Or even if you know the tune.

          What really matters is knowing

          That the trees are singing at all.      --from Hope Through Heartsongs (2002; page 35)

 

In the world today, we are in serious jeopardy of losing the rain forest and the trees that are so essential to our world and continued life on this planet. So please excuse my “cheating” on this contest. I have not used the specified lines in my poem, but I am taking Mattie’s poem as my inspiration. Because, as he so aptly put it, “when the trees sing”, it is not really important that you understand the song or the details, “what really matters is knowing / that the trees are singing at all.”

 

            Best regards,

 

                        Rick

 

 

The Song of Trees

 

Deep from their roots,

Deep from the soil,

Tree’s song of Life does call.

With strength of earth and falling rain,

Tree voices nourish all!

 

Hark to their speech

And praise their words

Through thundering of the storm.

Tree’s Leaf and Bark sing melodies,

Life’s magic to perform!

 

Through vital Leaf

Condense the Sun--

A source of Power most pure!

It is the root of the World’s Life--

Of emptiness the cure!

 

Such miracles!

How wonderous!

Tree’s gift to Life unfolds:

It’s Nature’s power manifest--

A rite of Life most old!

 

Deep from their roots,

Deep from the soil,

Trees breathe their life to earth--

A treasure so immeasurable,

It gives all life its birth.

 

 

 

 

 

©2008, Richard Puetter

All rights reserved

 

 

Reviews

[Samuel Dickens]

Is there another plant on earth more important to our existence than the tree? I don't think so. Nor is there one so majestic, beautiful or seemingly wise. As much or more so than any other life-form, they are our brethren and should be protected at all cost.

[THE LOST ROSE]

I know that young man's work well. For you to be inspired to write a poem that speaks of the same ubject but are total opposite is amazing. Two minds translating the same subject but doing it so beautifully. Great write please keep me updated on how you do in the contest. Thanks for sharing.

[Stephanie]

I find it truly sad that mankind is destroying our forests and ultimately nature. It's amazing that the thought came from a 12 year old boy, and I think you captured the message beautifully. I really enjoyed this poem.

"Deep from their roots,
Deep from the soil,
Trees breathe their life to earth-
A treasure so immeasurable,
It gives all life its birth."

That was my favorite stanza! Trees and nature are so important and we absentmindedly ruin it. Excellent work Rick!

[Tovli]

a lovely and earthy poem--nicely done.

[C.T. Bailey]

Rick, I love the way you so eloqently cloak your wisdom within your poetry. Observing these characteristic nuances in your work has become one of the things that I enjoy most about reading you. Here in this masterpiece, the reader is left to discern the "language" of the trees, which is entirely subjective. Line by line, I see the science of earth revealed. With every period, comma, and exclamation point, not only is your passion evident but your desire to teach others as well. This is another fine work. I am envious of your ability!
Todd

[angelina neves]

Beautiful and sooooooooooooooo very true! I love trees and for me they are the symbol of care and unconditional love they are... I always see a tree as a being with open arms ready to embrace you or any other being with our asking where you came from, to where are you going, what have you done or not done or anything! Lovely!

[Salvatore Buttaci]

While your poem is exceptionally good, you marked it "unofficial" and you neglected to add the given Stepanak lines within your poem, which was the contest rule.

Sal

[Helena]

Oh this is just a stunning piece in every respect. A true "masterpiece" Rick.
Beautifully written, splendor and imagery oozed from your pen. You have
painted a delightful scenario of the "singing trees"


"I think that I shall never see a poem as lovely as a tree".....well I have, and it's yours!

'TREES" by Joyce Kilman
http://www.bartleby.com/104/119.html
to read her beautiful poem in full.

Love and Light
Helena

[emmajoy]

This is beautiful and does absolute justice to your theme.

' Hark to their speech / And praise their words / Through thundering of the storm. / Tree's Leaf and Bark sing melodies, / Life's magic to perform! ' - how very true.

And, if you set your ear against aged barks, you can actually hear them 'sing'

I wonder if you've read The Tree: John Fowles? As a Dorset woman, I'm more than willing to share his writing with you!

[Lalli]

Rick my friend,

Thank you for sending this all inspiring poem to read. Touching, profound, and insightful. One that is amazingly brought into perspective through the mind of a young boy, wow.

Amen, we so often forget what and how we become. This is a great reminder to the power of mother nature and what she encompasses to bring life.

much love n' respect

-Lalli