The veins in my hands deep,
pronounced,
like the roots of the oak tree,
strong and enduring.
My crow's feet light
but aged,
like the cracks in the tree
seasoned and broken down.
On the doorstep of spring
the bark peels without danger.
On the doorstep of spring
my soul is fractured
from the crevices of life.
My inner bark is living
forming new protective layers.
We both weathered life,
at times beaten and broken,
yet we are both survivors.
New twigs are forming,
green leaves are sprouting,
and I am growing new stems
to extend ,
to uncover and remedy
doubt and fear.
My spirit soars higher
than my body can.
It struggles
to follow the questions,
to explore the possibilities,
to provoke,
to seek.
When you look into my eyes
can you see the stains on my soul?
I bow my head
and
then I rise
like the roots of the oak tree
soaking it all in,
loving life.
Meet us here http://dversepoets.com/ where we share our thoughts and our hearts.
Life as a tree, spreading across the sea
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful. Nice to compare your life to that of a tree. I like this so much, and can relate to these thoughts about aging and loving life.
ReplyDeletethen I rise
ReplyDeletelike the roots of the oak tree... beautiful metaphor with the tree...soaking it all in...growing and building new twigs... trees are so majestic and more beautiful the older they get and so much space and shelter for many...
To be a tree. I love that metaphor.. and I have to admit I'm no longer a sapling either... :-)
ReplyDeleteYes, an excellent metaphor.
ReplyDeleteThough physical parts of us do our signs of age, new 'twigs' still do form....and our spirit can still soar! And life is to be loved!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great ode to life despite our growing older. I like how you see similarities between yourself and the tree. The description of your hands made me smile, quite like my own.
ReplyDeleteWonderful affirmation of life poem. >KB
ReplyDeleteI like the way you use the attributes of the tree to describe yourself, and affirm yourself, especially since the tree needs us, and we need the tree. A perfect symbiosis. We lose a few branches but new ones grow back.
ReplyDeletenice...i have a great affinity of trees...and i like the metaphor you use in this...we gather our rings of the ages as we go...and we do weather life as we go, bearing the scars but layering over them....cool piece...
ReplyDeletehappy sunday ayala....smiles.
Delete:) You too :)
DeletePlenty of ties here to celebrate - works well - thank you for sharing.
ReplyDelete"New twigs are forming,
ReplyDeletegreen leaves are sprouting,
and I am growing new stems
to extend ,
to uncover and remedy
doubt and fear...."
Good lead-in to your last sentence. Lovely.
A beautiful message dear Ayala ~ I love it ~
ReplyDeleteI just love this, yes, we weather and grow and go dormant and revive, again and again, just like those trees. Wonderful metaphor all throughout this, my new favorite of yours!
ReplyDeletethis is a rich poem..strong roots in the journey of life..I hold trees in deep regard your poem is so symbolic..
ReplyDeleteI like the doorstep of spring. Let's fling it open!
ReplyDeleteIt's so interesting how often we use trees as comparisons to our own lives. The tree perseveres and so do you.
ReplyDeleteI like your use of simile, metaphor and personification of the tree in this, a very positive and uplifting piece.
ReplyDeleteour life like a tree......
ReplyDeleteVery nice. Vernal!
ReplyDeleteOriginal, engaging, and beautiful, Ayala...you get betterer and betterer :)) xo ~jackie~
ReplyDeleteJust beautiful Ayala... so happy your spirit soars as you reach out to love life. Wonderful write!
ReplyDeleteAyala,
ReplyDeleteA very thoughtful and artful analogy that extends effortlessly throughout this. Nice job!
Steve K.
Lovely and wise, Ayala. I adore this line, "When you look into my eyes
ReplyDeletecan you see the stains on my soul?"
This is a very deep and beautiful poem, describing how life shapes us, both good and bad, and how we form new connections as a result of these changes. Tree roots, branches,,, wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThis is so beautiful Ayala, the imagery of your body and the tree, so lovely. I want to share that there is a morning prayer Elohai Neshama, that says our souls are pure… no stains, not ever. We might feel that way, external stuff has a way of seeping into our minds, but the soul is always connected to the Holy Blessed one. I was supposed to teach this in meditation today, but it will wait until next week… the gorgeous white snow coated everything, pure and fresh, so no driving:-)
ReplyDeleteLovely, Ayala! I'm looking out my window and a beautiful, strong tree and the image makes your words soar even more. xo
ReplyDeleteGorgeous!Loved the imagery and the analogy that you drew-we are so like the tree-our body wearing down,yet our resilient spirit continues to grow:-)
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of the psalm that says, "He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither…"
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! It is really lovely and inspiring!
ReplyDeletethis reminds me of the tree in the backyard where i grew up. lovely.
ReplyDeletethis one is a wow poem ... loved it.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful extended metaphor/ simile.
ReplyDeleteGreat sketch! (And the tree root photo a perfect accompaniment.)
ReplyDeleteFantastic sketch! I love the way you relate to the tree. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteI love the resiliency in this. Great metaphor!
ReplyDeleteNot an easy feat, Ayala, writing about about a tree. You pulled it off nicely. Sorry for the very late visit.
ReplyDeletePamela
As my love affair with trees grows this year....and as I grow too - both older and in spirit - this poem resonates deeply with me. Will add this one to my journal!!
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful Ayala--especially the close for me--to be loved and accepted with the stains we carry--it is truly a gift
ReplyDelete