The Bare Arms of Trees

Sergey Kireev
Yet another beautifully haunting and melancholy poem by John Tagliabue (the other here).  It's not fit for spring but for the grey and silver of the fall and winter, however I couldn't help but share as the words immediately paint pictures with broad brushstrokes in my mind.  Enjoy.


The Bare Arms of Trees by John Tagliabue

Sometimes when I see the bare arms of trees in the evening
I think of men who have died without love,
Of desolation and space between branch and branch,
I think of immovable whiteness and lean coldness and fear
And the terrible longing between people stretched apart as these branches
And the cold space between.
I think of the vastness and courage between this step and that step
Of the yearning and fear of the meeting, of the terrible desire held apart.
I think of the ocean of longing that moves between land and land
And between people, the space and ocean.
The bare arms of the tree are immovable, without the play of leaves, without the sound of  wind;
I think of the unseen love and the unknown thoughts that exist between tree and tree
As I past these things in the evening, as I walk.


Comments

  1. "the words immediately paint pictures with broad brushstrokes in my mind" --> these are some beautiful words you have here. i like the poem! quite winter-ish with thoughts from the deepness of the heart. there must be many that feel this way, i hope these combined feelings don't last long for them.

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  2. Thank goodness we believe in Ents! Our bare arms will never be alone or without love.

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  3. Love this poem ,Rooth. Reminds me of TS Eliot for some reason.

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  4. I do love the way the bare arms of branches call out to us . . . but I've never quite looked at them this way. Lovely (albeit a bit haunting) poem.

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  5. I actually think this poem is perfect for these early days of near-spring. There's such yearning here, the way the branches of the bare trees around me yearn toward the sun, buds patiently waiting. There's a lot of longing at this time of year. Lovely.

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  6. Thanks for always sharing such fantastic poems!

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  7. Swoon. This was amazing. I'm tweeting it.

    www.GirlwithaNewLife2.com

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