Death of a pine

I have pictures from 1910
where you can clearly see it
growing slightly above the head
of an elderly gentleman in a white suit
with a watch fob and chain.
He stands in front of a wrought iron gate
that is no longer there.
And now by estimation it is 40 feet
and the trunk is so massive that with my arms
spread out I cannot reach half-way around it.
For years it annoyed me with it's needles in my guters
and cones underfoot but lately it mellowed
or I adjusted to the srping and winter ritual
of ladder and wheelbarrow.
For the last 7 years it has been dying; slowly at first
as the lower branches gave up their green
to an unhealthy silver grey and despite the work
of a nurseyman and my spraying ever year the palor
spread up the tree.
This year it is gone like a million other trees, I suspect.
But I cannot grieve for all trees just this one.
It seems ver very nature to really care
when death strikes close enough to home to see and feel.
Jake
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Oh, Jake, this is so sad... I've never seen such heart-felt expression about a tree and i can't help but be touched by the sincerity of your words. i can almost feel your sadness; this is a very nice poem. :) justme
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Jake, don't mourn for the tree, it has fulfilled its purpose, housed birds, squirrels, etc. Now it will die and in so doing nourish the soil and and bring seedlings to life. Rejoice in the cycle that brings life from death. JFC
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justme and JFC..thank you..And JFC you are right as in all death we weep for the loss of that thing in it's present state from ourselves. But to rejoice in the cycle requires great vision and when the loss is close to us that vision often becomes blurred.One could ask if the work of Renoir was derived from great vision or because he had poor vision. Life and art,it's all in how you see it...jake
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beautiful words about a wonderful old tree...I can see why you miss it..it changes your view...m.e.
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nice job, Jake. i love coming to this site, as it heightens my awareness of things i would otherwise not think about. always gives me a different perspective with which to view life. thank you, Jake...ms
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Beautiful, Jake. For some reason it reminds me very much of a poem I wrote about my great grandmother before she died, at 103. I didn't know her very well. But one of the verses was about a horse chestnut my grandmother planted in the backyard as a child. It has since grown up and been cut down. Trees embody something vast and noble, and their life spans are similar to ours, so we relate with them uniquely. ~Van
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dad...still have the pic you sent...but...the one you paint with words from your heart is much more beautiful...catch up with you soon on icq...love ya! -sonny boy
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me-ms-Van-Sebi.....Thank you all very much for your kind words and your thoughts..as I reread this I see I botched up the ending..I should write these done before I post them...Naa I'd just try to edit them to death...jake
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hi there, jake! it's great to catch your work here on these pages ... Drm
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Yes Jake, it is good to see you here and as usual, your poetry is so expressive. Jane
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it is nice to see respect for a tree-- yes jfc there is a cycle-- but where i live they are clear cutting so many trees they don't have time to complete their cycle--i hate seeing all the beautiful trees die--window watcher
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I love this poem. I become very attached to things like a special tree and don't like change. dk
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There is a deep place in my heart that feels very moved by trees. I really enjoyed this poem, and agree with all the comments. I always enjoy your work. Thank you! R.J.G.
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hi jake..enjoyed your poem very much...;)annie
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Thanks everyone..this things been up here forever.. closed 3-6 me...Jake