The Bottle Tree is a southern folk art tradition that is slowly dying. It was magic as a child...to find one in the woods or growing along the marsh near the coast. It was special to grow up with the magic that was Dixie. It was healthy, mysterious and creative.
~Susan~
In the distance came a tingle
Glass hitting glass
The air waved sound of jingle
Infused metallic sass
Each time the breeze whistled
The air created whine
The old oak tree was singing
A Mystical chime
We all thought it magic
Fairies in a band
Tiny metallic tickles
Traces in the sands
We all ran and wondered
In awe the oak had us
Parents came a running
"What was all the fuss?"
The oak tree was singing
The air was her song
Bottles hung from fishing line
The wind swept song along
This mighty tree came alive
In animated tune
The fairies hung the bottles there
Beneath an Autumn moon
Fantasies were happening
As fireflies danced a beat
Living then was magic time
Humidity and heat
The bottle tree kept growing
With livid colors bloomed
In glowing music touched by
The mighty autumn moon.
I think I've read this before, Susan, it was beautiful then, and is now. An intriguing custom, I've never seen it personally, but maybe I'll start my own new tradition! :) Thanks for the inspiration.
I've never seen a bottle tree, but this poem makes me want to go out and search for one, Your descriptiveness and imagery are very powerful to the reader. excellent writing. enjoyed, Pierre.
wonderful images that stir my imagination and renew a sense of mystery ...
Reviewed by Linda Luna (Reader)
Reviewed on August 13, 2006
Susan,
A wonderful magic ritual...I agree this tradition needs to spread across our land to rekindle belief in magic and mystery. Thank you for sharing as always through your playful prose.
Sounds like a lovely old tradition that is well worth re awakening, I am looking for a new home and when I do that might be the first project I do. Lovely write and swelling mind images that dance with the imagination you posess.
I think up here in NJ someone would say that it was just so much littering, but I can imagine some pretty neat things from that picture...interesting poem, taught me something new, thanks...E & R
oh, Susan, this poem is an absolute delight! makes me want a bottle tree of my own! there is a bottle tree in 'Because of Winn-Dixie' with Cecily Tyson...I never knew...
This is wonderful Susan! Even out here I see them every now and again, but never knew why it was done! Thank you for letting us know the meaning behind it, I always liked seeing them, so strange and mysterious!
Reindeer
Reviewed by Jerry Bolton (Reader)
Reviewed on August 13, 2006
I love it too, Susan, it brings to mind the "money" treey my uncle used to have. When I would visit his place he always found coins here and there on the tree and gave them to me. I believed that it was a real money tree for a while. Some days I wish that I still did.
Just a wonderful rhythm in this enchanting construct - it flows like water. I love those moments when our memories enchant us with the magic of our youth.
Wasn't the bottle tree imported from Australia? It isn't indigenous to the south is it Belle?
For me, in my youth, it was the willow trees in Illinois. We made forts and hid out from the world. Unfortunately my father realized one day that he could cut the whip like boughs and beat us with them. Yikes!
May all that is good and honorable flow through your soul this day Belle!
In friendship and respect ...
Richard Lloyd Cederberg
Note: Since my husband's cancer surgery 4/25/05, this book content has been integrated into the public speaking content for audiences interested in a sassy approach to personal and/or community awareness events. Another chapbook on intimate love poet
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(((HUGS))) and love, Karla.
A wonderful magic ritual...I agree this tradition needs to spread across our land to rekindle belief in magic and mystery. Thank you for sharing as always through your playful prose.
LL*
Fee
Ron
Susan
Reindeer
A wonderful and superlative Southern tradition, that warms the cockles of your heart..
I believe Richard is correct, the original bottle brush tree originates Down Under..
Sweet Write
Peter
Eileen
Ron
Wasn't the bottle tree imported from Australia? It isn't indigenous to the south is it Belle?
For me, in my youth, it was the willow trees in Illinois. We made forts and hid out from the world. Unfortunately my father realized one day that he could cut the whip like boughs and beat us with them. Yikes!
May all that is good and honorable flow through your soul this day Belle!
In friendship and respect ...
Richard Lloyd Cederberg