Confessions Of An Alder Tree
By onemorething
- 1486 reads
I was fortunate where I settled,
born to the earth and water
of a sunlit bank, where I have grown
tall enough to give shade, rich
in alluvium, though drunk
on the river, I am lost
to poem dreams, and I confess
that I have observed more than
participated; watched the passage
of swans, sailing sisters beneath
the movement of clouds of gnats.
I whistle for the wind, tremble
green leaves - clothes worn
against the shimmer of lichen and
feàrn branches that spear the Aeron,
but I confess that I have not hidden
from sorrow, amongst the quarrels
of carp and minnow, the easy violence
of pike; experience that has fed roots,
hardened sap to flow across steel,
made stones for eyes.
Still I have resisted floods, sent
my own children to float
downstream like many Moses
in baskets, in an exodus to the sea,
my world reserved for siskin
and alder kitten, here, I have flowered
pink and gold in catkins for bees,
a sprig for a kingfisher, and I confess
that, isolated, I have bent to see
my reflection, unsure of what I have become.
Feàrn - Gaelic name for alder (wern in Wales)
Aeron - Celtic name for the River Avon.
Whistles were made from alder wood sometimes, and their green leaves worn as fairy clothes to conceal them. Alder wood is also known for its hardness. If cut, the alder 'bleeds' a reddish sap. The alder kitten is a moth, and siskins are often found in alders. An alder sculpture was found with pebble eyes in Scotland, about 2600 years old. You can see it here: https://www.nms.ac.uk/explore-our-collections/stories/scottish-history-and-archaeology/ballachulish-figure/
Image is from here: https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Illustration_Alnus_glutinosa0.
Also on Twitter: https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Annibale_Carracci_-_River_Landscape_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg
https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alder_trees_beaulieu_river_fawley_ford.jpg
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Comments
This is definitely one of my
This is definitely one of my favourites of yours Rachel. What an amazing way to describe this tree, you gave it feelings and emotions.
Very much enjoyed reading.
Jenny.
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...not hidden from sorrow,
"...not hidden from sorrow, amongst the quarrels of carp and minnow, the easy violence of pike.." Quintessential Rachel. Super, of course :)
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As ever an excellent and
As ever an excellent and personal poem, Rachel.
Whether consciously or unconsciously, very often poems are imbued with the author's feelings.
A trained eye can easily spot one's emotions even if masqueraded as metaphors.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Luigi x
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Agree with Jenny and Paul,
Agree with Jenny and Paul, this is one of my favourites of yours, too. Full of movement, informative, gorgeous language making rich and lovely images. One to read a lot of times, just because it is so beautiful, it makes me happy
ps I didn't know about the statues, that was interesting. There's an amazing tree (willow I think) by the stream I cross, one of those trees that expect to be talked to. It feels like there should be a statue there, though it is not a place of peril, it feels special
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catching up - what can I say
catching up - what can I say that hasn't already been said? Absolutely beautiful
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