A young tree bends low seeking the light, but with barely a year beneath its bark and its sap thin and unseasoned, roots barely sunk in the soil or tangled with the history of its kind, it will find Wisdom’s path steep and long, requiring roots that will not fail through fat years and lean, and heartwood where rings are built to store Wisdom’s memories and dreams So, innocence will face the dawn and learn that learning shapes tomorrow’s roots. And so it is with most of life: No mere sapling can sing its song and think to break the forest floor.
This is a deeply philosophical poem that could easily be the story of your life as a poet and the insights it has given you regarding the poetic craft. The last verse in particular is full of the wisdom that comes with age:
No mere sapling can sing its song and
think to break the forest floor.
It takes some time to learn the words
to learn the song, to learn just why
you’re singing, and who or what you’re
singing for.
Of course, it is also about trees what we can learn from them. Terrific poem, Paul.
My father always told me “You have to crawl before you can walk,” and I suppose that colors the idea of this poem. Before the wisdom of the forest starts to reveal itself, the sapling must learn to thicken its bark against the elements and set down a few rings, and perhaps it will grow into that wisdom.
Thanks for your fine comments, Martin. As always, I appreciate your support and engagement here!
A tender growth spurt occurs; deer browse, nip, and leave the sapling alone to create deeper roots. Time to grow stronger, regrow another ring, thicker bark to resist the excessive elements; bend with the wind, drink with the rain, prepare for drought times to come. Pitfalls of tromping feet. Yes ,the sapling , despite setback’s, progressively grows. If only humans could learn from its survival skills wisdom would be found from the tales of woe and leaps of positive faith in the universe.
I love the feel of this poem. Just beautiful, Paul. I can still hear my grandmother, always a moral to her stories; ‘ good things come in small packages’ . The little sapling has a good chance, of becoming.
This rather old sapling is just learning who he’s singing for… and she’s more beautiful than I’d ever imagined… my songs fall before her like leaves in an autumn wind… as tomorrow’s roots wait patiently. Beautiful.
This is a deeply philosophical poem that could easily be the story of your life as a poet and the insights it has given you regarding the poetic craft. The last verse in particular is full of the wisdom that comes with age:
No mere sapling can sing its song and
think to break the forest floor.
It takes some time to learn the words
to learn the song, to learn just why
you’re singing, and who or what you’re
singing for.
Of course, it is also about trees what we can learn from them. Terrific poem, Paul.
My father always told me “You have to crawl before you can walk,” and I suppose that colors the idea of this poem. Before the wisdom of the forest starts to reveal itself, the sapling must learn to thicken its bark against the elements and set down a few rings, and perhaps it will grow into that wisdom.
Thanks for your fine comments, Martin. As always, I appreciate your support and engagement here!
It's always a pleasure, Paul.
A tender growth spurt occurs; deer browse, nip, and leave the sapling alone to create deeper roots. Time to grow stronger, regrow another ring, thicker bark to resist the excessive elements; bend with the wind, drink with the rain, prepare for drought times to come. Pitfalls of tromping feet. Yes ,the sapling , despite setback’s, progressively grows. If only humans could learn from its survival skills wisdom would be found from the tales of woe and leaps of positive faith in the universe.
Exactly, Richard—the sapling will learn that there are no shortcuts to wisdom except experience and learning, hopefully both. Thanks, as always.
The little sapling is sinking its roots among a forest of watchful elders 😊
Exactly, Simone, and it will be some time before the sapling learns all their secrets. Thank you for reading and commenting!
Then also
As the twig is bent
So grows the tree.
That’s another old saw that generally proves to be true, Malcolm—Thanks for the reminder!
…lessons as rooted, curled around hard stones, trapping the impenetrable in once pliable fingers, like a woven cradle
That’s such a wonderful image, Patris!
It flowed from your images - the hard experiences grasped, received, accepted - yet still remaining incomprehensible.
Those lines are really good, Patris. I wish I’d written them!
Trust me, you are far more eloquent x
There's definitely a poet somewhere in you.
The tree will bend in its own direction hoping to find the light. Since it is small it will start earlier in the spring finding a path to the light.
Thanks, Paul.
I love the feel of this poem. Just beautiful, Paul. I can still hear my grandmother, always a moral to her stories; ‘ good things come in small packages’ . The little sapling has a good chance, of becoming.
Grandmother sounds like a wise woman. Thank you, Lor.
Lovely, Paul💙
Thank you, Diane. One thing the sapling will learn is that it cannot control external forces like the rain or wind or fires…
So many”saplings” think they know everything, until they grow roots…
I love that comment, Monica--Thank you!
Yes.
It takes some time to learn the words
to learn the song, to learn just why
you’re singing, and who or what you’re
singing for.
🖤 🖤 🖤
Thank you, Paul!
Yiu are welcome, Fotini and thank you for reading and commenting.
It takes time to grow and learn. Thank you for the reminder
Good Thursday, Elizabeth, and thank you!
I love trees. Thank you for this, it is wonderful.
Aw, Thank you, Bliss!
to learn just why
you’re singing, and who or what you’re
singing for.
This rather old sapling is just learning who he’s singing for… and she’s more beautiful than I’d ever imagined… my songs fall before her like leaves in an autumn wind… as tomorrow’s roots wait patiently. Beautiful.
You know, Joshua, there’s a lot to be said for the moments when you feel new again, revitalized…don’t lose it!
Yes, there is. Common wisdom doesn’t anticipate or account for the unexpected… thankfully!
Experience matters!
It is through experience that the sapling will learn and learning will draw it toward wisdom.
Nice, Paul. Wise.
Thanks, David