Mistletoe
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By onemorething
- 4678 reads
In the apple, or better, an oak,
leafless, dark boughed and
outstretched in many a twisted limb,
where mosslight and lichen glow
under globes of thunder broom -
these tree thieves sip upon
the destiny of their branches.
A tangle, a knot, a green galaxy
of berried stars, unhidden,
words unsilent, yet unvoiced,
and if there ever was
a secret, then it is now only
the mistle thrush who knows.
My mother used to say
that mistletoe was like a baby;
groundless and full of taking, but
for the child, I think, they are pearls
of poison, weeping waxy, glue
for the tiny feet of little wrens -
such suffering, to be trapped
in birdlime, here, I hold the promise
of a stem and the grave speaks.
Image from here: https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:European_mistletoe_-_Viscum_album_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1105331.jpg
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Comments
"I hold the promise of a stem
"I hold the promise of a stem and the grave speaks". Such poetic beauty "where mosslight and lichen glow."
Wonderful, of course :)
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It is amazing how some of the
It is amazing how some of the trees around here survive when you realise in the winter how festooned they are with mistletoe orbs as the tree leaves are lost. The orchards still seem to prodcue apples somehow. Rhiannon
https://www.abctales.com/story/rhiannonw/mistletoe
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Of course the misletoe has
Of course the misletoe has sadly got a bad reputation, but your poetic words emanate their beauty too. I like the idea that if there ever was a secret of the berries, it's the mistle thrush who only knows, adds a touch of mystery that we as humans shall never understand.
Happy New Year to you Rachel.
Jenny.
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It's so nice to see something
It's so nice to see something new from you onemore - and this is very special indeed - thank you!
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Really lovely words to
Really lovely words to describe such a parasite.
I particularly liked ...
these tree thieves sip upon
the destiny of their branches
It fascinates me how nature can send something so small to do so much harm to something as large as an oak tree.
I really enjoyed your poem.
Turlough
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I was always under the
I was always under the impression that mistletoe was very harmful to its host trees, but it seems not. So that's a bit of good news to start a new year. I'll redirect my wrath to the ivy now ... another of nature's gems that needs to be controlled.
Happy New Year to you.
Turlough
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Perfect for the season.
Perfect for the season.
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This is our Poem of the Week
This is our Poem of the Week - Congratulations!
It's also our Facebook and Twitter Pick of the Day - please share/retweet if you enjoyed it as much as I did
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ah, cold and sinsiter, yet
ah, cold and sinsiter, yet wam to the ear.
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stunning
Simply gorgeous, all good art makes you see something in a new, sumptuous light, that's what you've managed beautifully.
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Completely wonderful, Rachel,
Completely wonderful, Rachel, and the 'berried stars' conjures such an amazing image.
Happy New Year!
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This is our Poem of the Month
This is our Poem of the Month - congratulations!
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The connection of Mistletoe
The connection of Mistletoe to the Mistle thrush exemplifies that all of nature has a reason for being, both destructive and life supportive. The sorrow of birdlime used to trap delicate birds shows the heartbreaking use by man of this natural occurring substance. Your poem is beautifully written with lines of wonder and sorrow juxtaposed throughout.
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