the tall maple is a shimmering yellow
the deep crunch beneath my feet
sounds mournful still
its twin to the left
was being gnawed at by rot
and had to be removed
since then I haven’t had the heart
to poach its sticky syrup
I will never forget the gasp escaping the earth
as huge sections of the trunk was felled
the house shook
Pat R
10/13/20
For dVerse Poets Pub… an interesting prompt this week where Sarah is hosting – Three little words. Stop by to read or participate here
My choice : Sticky. Left. Gasp
thoughts and entanglements 
I love that gasp, and the shaking of the house. The tree is important, a character in its own right.
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Thank you Sarah, and thanks for hosting. A really interesting prompt this week😊
Pat
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I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
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Pat, you’ve done honor to the fallen tree and paid respect to its still standing twin. I admire anyone who regards trees in this way.
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Thank you, I appreciate that.
Pat
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You are welcome.
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Great poem, Pat–visceral, I could feel it.
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Thank you Rhen!
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You’re so welcome 🙂
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This is powerful with grief encompassing nature. I loved these lines the most:
“sounds mournful still
its twin to the left
was being gnawed at by rot”
Such intriguing imagery you create, it’s stunning. Very well-written with lament and respect to the tree. It’s also saddening the trials that nature goes through in life or death, and it’s really evocative in this piece.
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Thank you Lucy. I am surprised at how much that whole process bothered me. Thank you for your kind comment.
Pat
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Trees have a spirit of life in them too and you’ve really brought a sense of loss across in the description of the felling of the tree here.
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Thank you Ingrid.
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A fallen tree is so sad, a great life sinking, not done as it goes on feeding a host.
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It was a sad event. We did a really good assessment in trying to save it. But it was not to be. I’ve never seen trees this tall in person!!
Pat
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The cranky climatic conditions are fragilising the trees. We can expect more of them to just let go.
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A crazy situation, I know.
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😦
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Such a gorgeous maple, Pat, tall and shimmering yellow is a wonderful introduction, and I love the use of sound to express emotion, crunch and gasp. I am attached to the trees in our garden and felt the same when the bay tree had to go – but it’s making a return!
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Thank you Kim. It’s good that yours is making a return. No such sign in mine yet just a huge gap on the property. That tree girth and height.. it was at least fifty feet tall!!
Pat
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Trees are living beings and you do honor to them. (K)
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Thank you (K)
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Very beautiful ❤
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Thank you D😊
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You’re very welcome 😊
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I think the gods sigh in sadness when a tree is felled. It’s a painful sight to me.
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Yes, I know what you mean.
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It’s a tragedy to take down a tree, but if it’s infested with rot there is no choice actually… we have a sick elm that needs to be taken down.
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Yeah, I know. But it still feels weird. Good luck with the elm.
Pat
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There was one tree that was taken down and I felt the gaping wound on the heart. Am sure the earth shook 😦
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Yeah, it changed the whole landscape. 😔
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This made me a bit sad–as I was when we had two maple trees chopped down that the arborist said were diseased and could not be cured. Those last few lines are wonderful.
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I know what you mean. A huge limb had fallen and struck the edge of the garage. So it was beyond saving. About those lines, thanks.
Pat
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You’re welcome.
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