On A gloomy cloudy day
Stopped
At a traffic light
To my left across the road
I witnessed
Death in progress
An old Oak tree
Guessing several hundred
Years of age
Strangling to death
With the cancerous
Spanish moss it host
Shrouding the behemoth
From canopy
To a few feet off the ground
Not a leaf did I observed.
Looked away
Heard a thunderous thump
Turned my head
In the Oaks direction
A 30 foot branch
Rotted to the core
Drained of its life giving
Sap
Laid on the grass
Where before
Was nothing but green
Falling off like the arm
off a poor leper soul.
The once majestic
Mighty Oak
Must have witnessed
This Nation from its birth
To its glory
To its presently
Struggling stage
It was his time to go
By: William Bonilla
D’Artagnan”
01/02/2014
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Reviews of "A Dying Oak"
Reviewed by DM Yates (Reader)
Reviewed on May 25, 2014
What a beautiful and well-written tribute to that oak tree. I loved every word of this poem. Yet were you there to witness its demise and so it lives forwever in your written words.
Well done William. Oak trees do have many natural enemies. In California, mistletoe does the deed and here in Missouri, vines snake their way around the trunks and choke the life out of the tree. Still nothing is more visually eerie than spanish moss. Patrick
Unfortunately all things must come to an end! The oak being a grand symbol of strength, not yielding fruit except in death. Then you see its glory in what we walk on in life and the treasure box that was built by it!
Very moving and sad to witness this death of a mighty Oak tree...Nature has some strange ways....but like everyone on this Earth...there is a time to go...and the Spanish moss was the grim Reaper....
Happy New Year!
Diana...
It says something when your first thought is not for your own safety (or imminent danger, as it happens), but for the tragedy of the tree, William. Indeed, sometimes our own consequence seems belittled by the force of nature overtaking us at the time. So well observed and documented. Stay safe and well in 2014! :) xx
I always used to wonder what Spanish moss really was but then was informed that it is a parasite. This poem could be compared to our country and the "parasites" that are killing it as well.
THIS is very, very good, William. About the moss, most people only see the moss as a wonderment of nature, but you are right, it murders the oak trees it attaches itself to. Yep, the tales the mighty oaks could tell.
Well done William! I can relate because my wife and I just visited a national park that had a 1000 year old tree. It was pretty much dead but it was revered by so many in the park. If trees could talk the Historians would have to re-write History!
May peace, love, happiness and abundant blessings follow you throughout the New Year!
A further collection of poems, many from years in the Middle East, but also the California San Francisco and Central Coast areas (Santa Cruz, Carmel, Big Sur, Berkeley, etc.).
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Connie
William..of poetic thoughts
Lady Vivian
Great reading...
Teresa
Happy New Year!
Diana...
As All Things Will(Must) Die
In This Evil World--It Is:
Where It (You) End Up At
That Very (Your) End!
TRASK...
Aspiring your gentle way of expression
for this majestic Oak.
Lady Mary Ann
I could see this poor tree in my mind.
Amazing work!
Peace love and light
Amber
Love ya!
Jane
budd
May peace, love, happiness and abundant blessings follow you throughout the New Year!
John Michael Domino