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The Cherry Tree

4/28/2015

8 Comments

 
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        Over the course of the 37 years we have lived in this house, many trees have come and gone in the backyard. But one has remained constant – the flowering cherry that stands outside our back patio door. The perfect climbing tree, it housed a home-made fort and was christened “The Bat Tree” when the kids were small (and Batman was popular). It has been home to countless birds, squirrels, and insects, survived the fall of large branches blown down in windstorms, and even refused to give up when a large pine sheared off about a fourth of it as it came crashing through our porch roof. Through it all, our cherry tree has been a constant companion.

            As poetry month winds down, and the cherry blossoms start to open, I thought this would be the perfect time to honor my constant companion with a poem I wrote several years ago. One afternoon I just sat and observed the tree, recording what I saw and how I felt, and remembering. You can read more about my process here.

“Ode to a Cherry Tree”
Rough and gnarled
Mottled
Scarred from a lifetime of protecting
Offering shelter, shade, and hope…
A constant companion.


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8 Comments
arjeha link
4/28/2015 04:46:59 am

The cherry blossoms are lovely. If trees could talk they would have some fascinating stories to tell.

It was great seeing you and Lynne on Thursday. Thanks for the book recommendation. I will have to check it out.

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Becky Leff link
4/28/2015 07:12:02 am

It's a beautiful time of the year to enjoy nature and poetry. Thanks for the story and the poem!

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Stacey Shubitz link
4/28/2015 07:33:33 am

What a beautiful ode to your constant companion.

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Tara link
4/28/2015 07:54:54 am

Beautiful poem for a beautiful tree.

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elsie
4/28/2015 09:23:41 am

Love the descriptive words of gnarled and mottled. As we age, we all become a little gnarled and mottled. It is a beautiful tree that has stood the test of time.

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Tammy and Clare link
4/28/2015 10:15:50 am

Love this poem - 37 years is long time. So nice to have this holder of memories.

Thank you for sharing your process as well!
Clare

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Linda Baie link
4/28/2015 10:30:31 am

I love the idea of that 'constant companion', holding so many memories. I bet you're happy you wrote about it.

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Lori Sheroan link
5/5/2015 04:50:52 am

What a beautiful tree and a beautiful poem! I love the part about the kids naming it the "Bat Tree." It sounds like that tree has seen so much and survived so much that it certainly deserves it's own ode.
Well done!

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