The Sapling
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.
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.
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.
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.