Sticks
The boundary is flat
on the river.
Roots erode;
and trees cross the realm,
extending
the bare knuckles
of their bony fingers
to the travelers
above.
The swirling knots
of the waterlogged wood
stare across
and speak
to the ringed cores
of the survivors.
The fibrous matter
separates
from the soul
in the dark depths.
We wallow in the mud,
with unburied bones,
exposed,
and leaving no need
for chiseled tombstones.
-Robert L. Jackson III
Posted for Poets United midweek motif of Soul/Psyche.
Wednesday, January 17, 2018
Sticks
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And so life departs the pith of tree, leaving it truth to poets who can teach us what soul is. Wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI love the trees "extending the bare knuckles of their bony fingers." Such gorgeous descriptions, in this poem. Loved it.
ReplyDeleteWords will always prevail - I love the strength in your words
ReplyDeleteBeautifully written. Love the metaphor.
ReplyDeleteI specially love the details of fibrous matters apart from the tree soul and also the magical land/waterscape...Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI love reading about trees, especially personified trees and trees as metaphors. I especially like:
ReplyDelete'extending
'the bare knuckles
of their bony fingers';
'The fibrous matter
separates
from the soul
in the dark depths';
and
'...no need
for chiseled tombstones.'
Wonderful metaphor, powerful ending. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteAmazing and powerful write with vivid images. Brilliant metaphor, indeed.
ReplyDeleteIf you want to fix that type, highlight your whole poem and clear the formatting, resave and your poem will be ok.
ReplyDeleteI love the analogy with nature. Lovely poem!
Another 'brilliant metaphor' from me Rob. So well-writ. The close, perfect.
ReplyDeleteAnna :o]
The cycle of life. True for us all.
ReplyDeleteI especially liked - "The fibrous matter separates from the soul in the dark depths."
Lovely poem