That tree has a piece of me. (poem) by Doug Holder on AuthorsDen

That tree has a piece of me.
by Doug Holder → (All Poetry by Doug Holder)
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... A tree in Hempstead Lake Park in Rockville Centre, NY where I smacked my head in a sledding accident more than 40 years ago.-------------------------------- ____________________________________
I saw it on my morning jog a stolid, gnarled hunk an impassive thick solid trunk that met my brittle egg head-- head on as I sped on on my Flexible Flyer sled. And after 40 years I stopped in my path, and remembered getting up but then falling on a thick carpet of snow. And when I woke the thick orange-red oozed from my young and numb skull. And I was proud. Now like my father a man with a purple heart and a little metal in his skull both of us veterans of war and life, blood brothers under the knife. I wondered if that tree in its deep-rooted terrain has a scrap of my brain flowing in its twisted, green veins. And I swear I stopped because that tree called to me and I saw a new branch a sapling, spry leaning toward the light. Yes, I am sure that tree has a piece of me.

Reviewed by Victoria's Poetry & Voices of Muse

Reviewed on June 13, 2008

Hello Doug,
I Bet The Tree Is Now Majestic In It's Maturity of 40 some years too.
I enjoyed reading your poetic memory. And smiling too :)
Embraced ~ Embrass�
Vickie

Reviewed by Karen Palumbo

Reviewed on August 11, 2007

Cute, an experience you obviously have not forgotten. You mean they still have trees in Rockville Center?? Thought it was just a hospital surrounded by buildings, surrounded by buildings.......

Be safe,
Karen

Reviewed by Leo Durrant

Reviewed on August 10, 2007

Doug,
I love the mix of humor and sincerity here:
"brittle egg head" and "numb skull" had me laughing.
Then, the second-to-last stanza gave me pause.
And the last stanza ties it all together:
Yes,
I am sure
that tree
has a piece of me.
I'm sure you're dad could same the same of you.
Very well done.
Leo

Reviewed by Cedric III

Reviewed on August 9, 2007

Now
like my father
a man with
a purple heart
and a little metal in his skull

this idea here is BRILLIANT!
when i first read purple heart i thought he was dead. i dont know why. but then i followed the thought process through before i even read it and decided if you were talking about a war medal then i was gonna worship you XD
that was really well done.
and you prolly deserve a purple heart for taking that tree on so valiantly lol.

its funny when we pause to look at something from our past... now that we are grown up and moved on.
i saw an army truck the other day and my heart got a little stuck in my throat for a split second... when i was little my dad told me that the army was put on earth to shoot you when you get too old and that they decided how old too old was... he doesnt even remember saying it but for years anything to do with the army would land me in hysterics. i hadnt seen an army truck in the longest time and when i saw it on tuesday i was transported back to those memories... its a silly thing but tied up in my mind forever...

and yes. im sure that tree has a piece of you.
makes me think of "you wanna piece of me, punk!?"

Reviewed by Rafiriio Daniels

This was a nice work! Keep poetry alive!!!