tree image ~ http://imgur.com/gallery/YcSS4
Mish is host at dVerse tonight and offers this superb prompt.
Today, I am asking you to write a poem from the perspective of one of nature’s gifts…a tree, a wildflower, a leaf in the wind or even through the eyes of a wise old owl.
Think beyond personification. Get into character and show us the world through your new “eyes of nature”. You may want to describe the view from where you are, the scents, the sounds and textures. Or perhaps you have a message of enlightenment. There are many lessons to be learned from nature. You could give your element of nature an opinion and let it speak through your poetry. The choice is yours. Just remember to write from nature’s point of view.
time
moves
slowly
in
the
world
of
a
tree.
How
long
have
you
got?
Your
ancestors
have
heard
the
beginning
of
this
tale.
Were
you
listening
to
their
stories?
It
seems
not.
How
long
have
you
got?
One really needs to slow down to hear the language of the tree. But they themselves have mastered this tempo. They are the best listeners and the keepers of the world’s secrets.
Them and rocks 😉 They’re pretty slow too.
Oh yes, rocks I’d say hold many worlds’ secrets 🙂
They do 😉
ah Paul……….the reading is slowed down in the scrolling…..illustrating the time measured by the tree. And the question comes round again at the end. Nicely done!
Same question but perhaps more meaning second time around. Thanks Lillian.
Brilliant! Quite effectively slowed the reader down to contemplate the tree’s point of view!
Thanks Beverly.
Yes… this is like ents… I can almost hear Treebeard speaking.
I did hear him echoing in the words too.
I like how you emphasized the point of the tree’s longevity by spacing out the poem.
That was the plan. Thanks Frank.
Very effective use of white space to reflect time and pauses and anticipation. Nicely done, Paul.
Thanks Misky.
Brilliant, Paul! I love this! Trees are my favourite plants. The willows in the centre of our garden whisper quite quickly compared to the silver birches at the end. The copper beech is still quite young and chatters when she has her leaves. The apple trees can be quite cheeky and the old quince and plum talk in riddles.
Thanks Kim. I’m a big tree lover too. One of my favorite photographic subjects. Nice to hear how you differentiate their chat.
I like the idea of slowly scrolling down the page to read the words from the trees Paul ~ I have a lot of respect for them, specially the ancient tress `
Trees are among some of my favorite beings here on Earth.
Great minds, indeed. Well, when we belong to an international community of poetic minds, days like this sprout up. I love your concept, making me slow my own tempo to key into the tree’s rhythms. I, too, :).
Thanks Glenn. I just can’t imagine trees being in any kind of a hurry.
I want to sit beside this gorgeous tree and hear more. We could all benefit from the language of trees. Best use of white space…..ever.
Thanks for your wonderful response to the prompt!
Thanks Mish. Really loved the prompt. I could write oodles on this theme. Oodles I tell you.
I echo about the use of white space – like the Japanese black space. I love the voice of the tree in this – one of the Ents I suppose. I’d like this tree to meet my oak and become friends. I think they have a lot in common. Except my oak lets me climb anytime I wish though. He is quite generous.
I’m sure my tree would be happy to moot your tree…mine is a little less friendly. He has seen too much in the way of destruction and grows tired with HooMans. I like to sit with him though as he is wise and has a deep heart under the hurt.
my oak is an old man and has lived in innocence. but he is still wonderfully wise and full of compassion. he is home to squirrel and brds’ nests and he lets me climb him anytime. he also does not mind that I often play my violin while sitting in my own nest in his strong arms. I hope he always stays innocent.
Trees talking eh? Ents talked slowly, walked slowly. But they were pretty old. I’m talking and walking pretty slow, but I don’t think I’ll live as long as them.
Ents did spring to mind immediately for me. I’ve met many an Ent in my day.
I don’t want to see trees walking or talking, it wold take me back to the 70’s. Did love the rings trilogy though lol
Standing Ovation!!!! Form is so essential in this poetic voice.
‘Bows’ Thank You, Thank You.
I am simply tickled pink by this. You had me at the title, and then your for, is just perfection.
Thanks De. I love listening to old trees.
Wow!!!!!!! The presentation. The scrolling feels like prolonging the way the tree speaks. It worked so so so well. And the meaning! GEEZ! Clever and creative and wise!
Thank You. Tis how I hear the trees.
aww. ❤ you're welcome!
the trees voice did slow us down…we had to listen…clever use of the layout 🙂
Thank You. Good to slow down.
Oh, clever, clever, clever. I really like this.
Thanks Sarah. I knew immediately what I was going to write and how.
It works really well. It makes reading into a very physical act, and repeating the question gives it a range of meanings, somehow.
I wanted to slow down time nd it seemed obvious….I was ascribing two very different meanings to that question. The first is an obvious reference to the time available in this moment…this conversation….the second is more to do with time that may or may not be left to us.
Thanks for the different take today;) The mightiness of trees speaks to us…would it be our lives were longer to hear more from their histories!
or perhaps we can just slow down and listen more often. Thanks for your drop in Kathy. Always a pleasure.
Now that is a tree. Your poem is a reminder of patience.
Thank You.
We would do well to listen to trees. This is wonderful, Paul.