Death of a Birch (poem) by Regis Auffray on AuthorsDen

Reviewed on August 20, 2014

Bleeding seems to bring to me awareness that something isn't right, it seems to fortell that all is lost and that birch is dead as we would be dead to the world if we kept bleeding, even within ourselves.

Reviewed by Lena Kovadlo

Reviewed on October 18, 2013

A moving haiku. I am not sure about the meaning behind the use of "bleeding" in this poem though.

Reviewed by Jms Bell

Reviewed on July 26, 2011

YOUR PRESENTATION IS MARVELOUS...SO MUCH SO, THAT 'MOURNING' FOR A BIRCH IS NOT AT ALL RIDICULOUS. EXCELLENT. THANKS FOR SHARING, REGIS AND MUCH LOVE, BLESSINGS & FAITH TO YOU. JOYCE * HIS INSPIRATIONS

Reviewed by KJ McPhee

Reviewed on February 16, 2011

It's forensic, Regis, a reminder that trees are living beings and we should harvest them wisely and not hack away like wild land-hungry planters.

Reviewed by Michelle Mead

Reviewed on July 24, 2008

love this, reg-you have so much damn talent

Reviewed by Cryssa C

Reviewed on January 21, 2008

Stunning...
I love the photo as well.
Cryssa

Reviewed by Sheila Roy

Reviewed on November 7, 2007

You have a gift for spotting beauty where others may not. Never lose that quality. ~Sheila

Reviewed by Staci Gansky-Wagner

Reviewed on November 7, 2007

Great photo, and very nice write.

Reviewed by Dragon Blue (Reader)

Reviewed on January 16, 2007

This drew me in for this is the Celtic Tree Month of Beth, better known as the birch tree, until January 20th. Did you know that if you cut bark from a birch it dies from that cut?

Great Haiku!

write on!!
)O(
db

Reviewed by Judith Bailey

Reviewed on December 12, 2006

I shudder everytime I pass by a christmas tree sales lot... such death and dying, so mindless and uncaring. You have captured this bit of our Mother very well, images stark in both word and sight. Your haiku plunged me into the releasing of life energy... didn't expect it, but haiku has a tendency to drop one into the feeling, without mercy. Sent love to the cutter and the tree.

Reviewed by Malcolm Watts (Reader)

Reviewed on December 12, 2006

Nice piece Regis. Very descriptive and immediate. Malcolm

Reviewed by Abigail Kloss-Aycardi

Reviewed on December 11, 2006

I truly appreciate this poem. As a little girl, whenever a tree was cut down on our property or the neighbors', I would cry. My Dad, many times, sat, explaining to me why it was necessary to cut it down. There is even a picture in the family photo album of the two of us, me on his lap, talking about why the three oak trees had to go. To this day, I feel very strongly about any tree being cut down. Thank you for this lovely expression about a cherished preserver of privacy (as I see them).

Reviewed by Karen Cino

Reviewed on December 10, 2006

Powerful. I could feel the emotions of nature clearly between your words and the pictures. Pure perfection.

~hugs~

Karen

Reviewed by Pierre Ortega

Reviewed on December 9, 2006

So much of the meaning of us cries to the world just as nature does and is hushed. Excellent Pierre.

Reviewed by Latasha Willis (Reader)

Reviewed on December 9, 2006

Poignant and fascinating. I suppose that if a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, it would make a sound to other trees.

Reviewed by Joyce Hale

Reviewed on December 9, 2006

When the birch was felled
It bled in the frigid air
The woodland was hushed

Stunning, Regis!! *The woodland was hushed* I love this!

Peace. Joyce

Reviewed by RM Green

Reviewed on December 9, 2006

The birch 'bled in the frigid air'... the birch became alive for me with all the same hurts and emotions as any human with these words. Simply masterful....

RM Green

Reviewed by Karen Vanderlaan

Reviewed on December 9, 2006

very moving-hardf to explain the emotion i felt-i grew up in new england, among the birches

Reviewed by OnepoetGem *the Poetic Rapper

Reviewed on December 9, 2006

I like your haiku Reg but I wish I could get rid of the tree in front of my house because of my drains

Reviewed by Debra Kraft

Reviewed on December 9, 2006

no man is an island entire of itself, but a piece of the main, a part of the whole...
I may not have quoted John Donne's work here exactly as written, but the thought is the same. The same can be said of the forest, especially a primal forest or rainforest. You've said so much more here than those few letters could possibly suggest on their own.

-Debra

Reviewed by E. Richardson

Reviewed on December 6, 2006

Regis, this is simply grand! The verse and picture work so well together that they form a whole...rather like a picture haiku. Very well done, my friend.

Reviewed by Jo Janoski

Reviewed on December 6, 2006

So beautiful!

Reviewed by Barbara Sue

Reviewed on December 3, 2006

I like this..how much you said in so few words..

Reviewed by K. Mulroney

Reviewed on December 2, 2006

So sad. The picture just frames this great work.

Reviewed by Aberjhani

Reviewed on December 2, 2006

An entire world of sorrow and beauty captured in these few lines.
Aberjhani

Reviewed by Muhammad Al Mahdi

Reviewed on November 30, 2006

Poem and photo are very symbolic and thus the message becomes a profound one indeed, at both levels. The photo too is excellently done, by the way.

Reviewed by Samuel Stone

Reviewed on November 29, 2006

Well done, the message is loud and clear, not to mention profound and sad...
Sam

Reviewed by George Carroll

Reviewed on November 29, 2006

A potent Haiku if I ever read one. Some how I deleted you from my tracking list in error. Sorry Reg.

Reviewed by Chrissy McVay

Reviewed on November 29, 2006

Wow...makes a very loud statement.

Chrissy

Reviewed by Phyllis Jean Green

Reviewed on November 29, 2006

So sad. . .but your haiku is fantastic. Plus you chose the perfect way to illustrate it {naturally}. Weeping stump makes you feel like weeping, doesn't it, Thank you for the wonderful work you do, my friend. Your poetry, like you, resonates with sincerity, compassion, and a deep and abiding respect for nature. That it is enjoyable to
read is just one of the delicious toppings you kindly and
generously provide. **********B R A V O !!!********** <3 Pea <3

Reviewed by Debby Rosenberg

Reviewed on November 28, 2006

death at the hands of a saw it appears....awesome photo and good haiku too

Reviewed by Kimmy Van Kooten

Reviewed on November 28, 2006

A wonderful Haiku! So much expressed within, "Death of a Birch"
flowing, yet frozen in a time...giving, yet taken back by its frigidness...
Love and Peace~
Kimmy~

Reviewed by Pier Tyler

Reviewed on November 28, 2006

Even nature knows how to mourn...Thanks, I like this one.

Reviewed by Lynn Barry

Reviewed on November 28, 2006

As always...a powerful read. HUGS

Reviewed by Mary Patterson

Reviewed on November 28, 2006

Great picture, The haiku,, profound !.........M

Reviewed by Brett Moore

Reviewed on November 27, 2006

Now this is the way haikus are supposed to be written. Very good, Reg.

Brett

Reviewed by Kate Clifford (Reader)

Reviewed on November 27, 2006

And when it thaws new lift will begin :-) Love this Haiku

Reviewed by CJ Heck

Reviewed on November 27, 2006

Exceptional writing, Reg. You've captured the essence perfectly in your photo. Again, exceptional.
Love,
CJ

Reviewed by Morning Star

Reviewed on November 27, 2006

This is an incredible piece of work.
You have instilled beautiful descriptive
In this haiku I feel sadness in my soul when they
cut of the lives of our trees it's like
Cutting the oxygen and beauty of our world
Trees do bleed.
Excellent metaphor Imagery and flow
Excellent choice of picture to accompany a beautiful write!!
Love And Peace To You
Morning Star

Reviewed by Anna Marie Fritz (Reader)

Reviewed on November 27, 2006

Regis...both your photo and your poetic imagery...are stunning.
I, too, feel hurt to see a living entity cut down. No chance to live out its full life and become the tall, proud statue to nature that should have been its heritage. Harder even, to accept, is when humans do that to one another.
Nice work here!

Reviewed by Cynth'ya Reed

Reviewed on November 26, 2006

Hushed, yet captured in three lines that scream a metaphor of how people can be frozen by hurt that never heals properly, by loss that can never be replaced.
blessin's, and that was a lovely photo!
cynth'ya

Reviewed by Handsum Hart

Reviewed on November 26, 2006

Very touching Regis.

Best wishes

Reviewed by Nordette Adams

Reviewed on November 26, 2006

Crystallized nicely, Regis. :-) ~~Nordette

Reviewed by Mitzi Jackson

Reviewed on November 26, 2006

I am a lover of nature
new life and spring
dying in winter or persevring
all majesty
picture & poem really nice

Reviewed by Ronald Hull

Reviewed on November 26, 2006

Trees live longer than we, but we give them little respect. I find the idea of cutting a living tree just for Christmas abhorrant.

Ron

Reviewed by Art Hernandez

Reviewed on November 26, 2006

Your heart is as the soul that feels from within the depths of the Universe...a most significant tribute and sincere thought....

Art Sun.....

Reviewed by Regina Pounds

Reviewed on November 25, 2006

Touching, Regis, and deeply saddening as well.

Sharp in the visual and abstract communication.
Gina

Reviewed by Kate Burnside

Reviewed on November 25, 2006

A wonderful capture and a very potent, thought-provoking and stirring sentiment. Viscous and visceral. Bless you, Regis. K xx

Reviewed by Myrna Badgerow

Reviewed on November 25, 2006

Very nice haiku!! Enjoyed!

Myrna

Reviewed by Jennifer Butler (Reader)

Reviewed on November 25, 2006

Very symbolic.

Reviewed by Dawn Richerson

Reviewed on November 25, 2006

I am so in tune with Alexandra's thoughts below. I had to have a moment of silence and prayer for this birch before commenting. so thankful for you writing this. all good things, Dawn

Reviewed by Robert Blackwell

Reviewed on November 25, 2006

And the world is lessened for its passing. Well done, my friend.

Reviewed by Alexandra* OneLight*� Authors & Creations

Reviewed on November 25, 2006

Dear Regis, Joseph mentioned this ku to me, and I'm glad and thankful he did, because, upon reading it, I am swept by a feeling of deep reverence - both for this tree, and all others that are equally "bled" in too many cases just in order to meet our egotistical needs, and for the poet whose soul honours its generosity by writing this splendid, poignant tribute. The image is magnificent... it hits the viewer's consciousness like a stab of that ice. Thank you, sensitive poet.
Love,
Alexandra*

Reviewed by Vesna Perkovic (Reader)

Reviewed on November 25, 2006

Aaaaaah Regis this birch is so akin to me at the present moment..hmmm..this is making me regroup my thoughts that create my reality..thankyou for the trigger..

Vesna:)

Reviewed by Randall Barfield

Reviewed on November 24, 2006

Very enjoyable haiku. Suave and nature-centred. Thanks for creating it. Cheers

Reviewed by Robert Harrison (Reader)

Reviewed on November 24, 2006

Reg,

I cannot add to that which has already been expressed, except to say as the Indians do "Thank you tree for giving your life that I might live".

Reviewed by Elizabeth Price

Reviewed on November 24, 2006

Such power through so few words. excellent

Reviewed by Poetess of The Soul Sheila G

Reviewed on November 24, 2006

Wow Reg. STarkly said in this Wonderful haiku!
I never found words in my heart on haikus
This pict. is overwhelming too!
We all need to be reminded!
WArmly,Sheeeoxxo

Reviewed by Rhonda Galizia

Reviewed on November 24, 2006

Regis,

The impact of your photograph, is only surpassed by the grace of your haiku...overwhelming, but sad beauty.

Love&hugs, Rhonda

Reviewed by Daring Sunshine

Reviewed on November 24, 2006

Touching...sad...such few words can impact the soul!! Great work!
Peace&Grace,
Sharon

Reviewed by Joseph* OneLight*� (Reader)

Reviewed on November 24, 2006

Dear Regis,

This is one of the most beautiful haiku I've had the pleasure of reading for a while. I love haiku and so I give my highest compliment to you ... wish I had written this one!

Love & Light always and in all ways,
Joseph*

Reviewed by Constance Gotsch

Reviewed on November 24, 2006

Why was it killed?

Reviewed by Richard Cederberg

Reviewed on November 24, 2006

The symbolism and analogy in this write is far beyond just the tree being felled. You have touched a nerve and have done so with a somber and succinct panache.

Life is delicate and always subject to the wiles and forces around it that wish to destroy.

Light and Wisdom ...
Richard Lloyd Cederberg

Reviewed by H. Lena Jones

Reviewed on November 24, 2006

Hi Regis, Ouch! I imagine if trees could speak they would cry out in agony at the cruelty of man!

God Bless
Lena

Reviewed by Linda Ames (Reader)

Reviewed on November 24, 2006

Straight to the heart and soul. I love the photo and the haiku.

peace, linda

Reviewed by Carole Mathys

Reviewed on November 24, 2006

The impact and sadness in this touching haiku is powerful...

peace and love, Carole

Reviewed by Peter Paton

Reviewed on November 24, 2006

Reg

A silent and powerful expression of life and death captured in words and picture..

Excellent offering my friend..

God Bless

Peter

Reviewed by jude forese

Reviewed on November 23, 2006

a powerfully symbolic ku, Regis ...

Reviewed by Phillip William Allen

Reviewed on November 23, 2006

Makes one think. Enjoyed

Reviewed by Sandie May Joyce (Sandie Angel)

Reviewed on November 23, 2006

Wonderful photo. and heartfelt poem!

Sandie Angel a.k.a. Sandie May Angel :o)

Reviewed by Chantilly Lace (Reader)

Reviewed on November 23, 2006

Wonderful work

Reviewed by Joyce Bowling

Reviewed on November 23, 2006

Very powerful my friend. Touching picture as well as touching write.
Blessings,
Joyce Bowling

Reviewed by Dawn Mullan

Reviewed on November 23, 2006

The poem and picture together are striking comments about how nature is not respected by most humans. Great pair. Thank you, DL Mullan

Reviewed by ~ Holly Harbridge (Reader)

Reviewed on November 23, 2006

A lovely message indeed.

Reviewed by William Bonilla

Reviewed on November 23, 2006

Kill a Tree, shorten a breath
well done Regis
Great Picture and informative Note

peace be with you
William

Reviewed by - - - - - TRASK

Reviewed on November 23, 2006

Take Leaf Or Piece Of Root (Plant It Nuture It)Like You It Will Grow Young Again...

TRASK

Reviewed by Andy Turner (Reader)

Reviewed on November 23, 2006

Nicely delivered, the story of life..

Reviewed by Jackie (Micke) Jinks

Reviewed on November 23, 2006

A very symbolic 'Ku, Reg...a full story in this. Thanks, also, for the pic...I'd never seen anything like this before. Wow...lots of meaning to both the 'Ku and picture!

Micke

Reviewed by Felix Perry

Reviewed on November 23, 2006

Living in the center of a lumbering country I seldom think of trees dying when they are cut down but this short incisive write made me pause and do just that.

Fee

Reviewed by Michelle Mills

Reviewed on November 23, 2006

A very sensitive and beautiful piece Reg. I don't normally enjoy Haiku, but this is a particularly lovely one. The photo is great too. Love you, Michelle

Reviewed by Ed Matlack

Reviewed on November 23, 2006

Any death is painful to Mother Nature...& should be to all mankind...Ed

Reviewed by J M (Reader)

Reviewed on November 23, 2006

This is excellent Regis good message.

Reviewed by Victor Buhagiar (Reader)

Reviewed on November 23, 2006

Killing trees kills the world. Lovely ku. Victor

Reviewed by Dove JoAnne Cromp (Reader)

Reviewed on November 23, 2006

It returns to the "great circle of life", never beginning, no end, always has and always will be...Glorious message of spirit dearest Reg....

Love & Peace,
Dove

Reviewed by Lew Duffey

Reviewed on November 23, 2006

Unfortunately more and more trees are replaced with row houses and high risce buildings. It's a shame. They make our oxygen supply.
Good Write.
God Bless,
Lew

Reviewed by Charles Keller

Reviewed on November 23, 2006

So poignant and profound. You're a great writer, Regis.

Reviewed by Miss Pandora (Reader)

Reviewed on November 23, 2006

I often wonder what stories the trees could tell ...and without them where would we be? Lovely work Regis and a striking graphic. Amour et paix toujours, Panda ;) x

Reviewed by Abdi-Noor Mohamed (Eagle Of Hope)

Reviewed on November 23, 2006

Powerful nature poem. Thanks for your concern over the hushed forests

Reviewed by Tinka Boukes

Reviewed on November 23, 2006

Well penned Regis!!

Happy Thanksgiving Dear One!!

Love TinkaSweets

Reviewed by SHERRY HEIM

Reviewed on November 23, 2006

This is quite a powerful write for so few words, Regis. It is always disconcerting to me to see tree stumps; it always feels like a life was ended before its time and most probably for no good reason.
Take care,
Sherry

Reviewed by Sage Sweetwater

Reviewed on November 23, 2006

Nature is timbering all of the time. The forest has to be managed to be healthy. If the forest of trees is abused or burned, there is no sap to tap and there is no sugarbush, and if there is no sugarbush, it takes the sweet out of life...Happy Thanksgiving Regis.

Sage