My willow tree
its towering, magnificent canopy
elegantly cascading to the ground
a curtain of delicate leaves
six feet deep, protecting me
its lush green inner chamber
bestowing both shelter
and a sense of enchantment
alone, but never lonely
in the companionship of the weeping willow
and my imagination
my childhood sanctuary
Author's note: A fairly substantial weeping willow tree stood in my backyard when I was a child. I spent hours every day playing under it. Sometimes gathering the spindly branches together and swinging on them, or laying on the ground between the trunk and where the branches fell. I recall the open space being 15 or 20 feet in diameter around the tree trunk. I remember being sprawled out on a blanket with stuffed animals, dolls, and books. It was not a place I invited my friends into. We bought the house during the summer before I started first grade, and the tree was cut down when I was away at camp the summer after fifth grade.
Prompt: Write a poem about your favorite place to be.
Posts
I love weeping willows! They are so majestic, so beautiful. Your story reminded me of "The Giving Tree"
ReplyDeleteSounds like a fun place to hang out as a kid. How sad the tree was cut down.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry it was cut down! Willow trees are one of my favorites. The spot where we got married had several of them at the entrance - one of my favorite spots where we took a photo. What a great place to spend time as a kid.
ReplyDeleteOh, this poem is bring back memories of the weeping willow at my uncle's house! My cousins and I would play in and around it all the time!! Thank you for the lovely poem!
ReplyDeleteWell compared to that my poem seems pretty silly. Nice work!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful poem and beautiful blog site. I loved willows as a child and put one in my first home. They are so beautiful - but their root systems are wild! When I moved, the new owners cut mine down too. I know how that feels... Lovely memories! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI had a willow tree growing up, too. It was a sad day when it came crashing down.
ReplyDeleteI am with Dumb Mom/Amanda in the "well my poem is a bit silly after yours" but oh well it takes a little of everything, right? (She RHYMED which I did not for what it's worth!!). Anyway, this was beautifully done and I felt like I was there beneath that tree ... sorry it was destroyed.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful poem! I had a special spot in my backyard (technically my grandparent's backyard) that was under the canopy of a large tree-like bush. Your poem really made me think of it.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry it was cut down. At that age, it would have devastated me.
"a curtain of delicate leaves
ReplyDeletesix feet deep, protecting me"
I like this. I can picture a child hiding behind the willow branches in a secret spot that is all their own...happy place.
Weeping willows are my favorite tree...this took me back to my childhood. THere was a BIG old willow in my favorite park...7 years ago a tornado claimed it, and I weeped for the loss.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. I'm so lucky to have a weeping willow to look at every day: )
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my3littlebirds.
I'm jealous. I love willow trees.
ReplyDeleteI am also very jealous. I love willow trees...
ReplyDeletefrom your poem I would have wanted to come over and play with my tea set and my Dressy Bessy.
Thanks for stopping by my blog too.
This is beautiful! I had a tree like that when I was a child. I so wish that my little girl had one now.
ReplyDeleteWe had a huge willow in our yard when I was little as well. We used to swing from the branches, and I still remember the tree's curtain as a safe, happy place. You described it perfectly.
ReplyDeleteI used to sit in the branches of our weeping willow tree and read or do puzzles for HOURS. Great imagery!
ReplyDeleteLove this poem. I had a similar place in my backyard though it wasn't a weeping willow. Alone, but never lonely. Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteNow I really want to see a willow tree! Hmm, wonder where I can go to see one. What a sweet poem and how sad that it was cut down.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my blog too. : )
Such a beautiful poem...how sad that it was cut down. I've always loved willow trees.
ReplyDeleteReading this took me way back in time. Like you, there was a large willow in our back yard too. The branches hung so low that they covered the ground. I remember playing inside it too, and trying to mow under it was a treat. Thanks for the memories.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful poem and the imagery took me right there with you under the green embrace of a willow tree. You are a talented poet. I can just imagine a young girl transported into a magical world away from it all under the canopy of this tree. You must have "wept" when they cut it down:(
ReplyDeleteYou paint such a vivid picture :-)
ReplyDeleteOh, I love the picture you painted for me with your words. I totally love your poem. I would wish that I had a tree like that in my life. A place of sanctuary. You make me feel like I could have been there. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteWeeping Willows are my favorite. They are so magical.
ReplyDeleteLovely images. I've always thought willow trees were so romantic. I love trees -- miss the acres of them I grew up with.
ReplyDelete