Against the clear blue with wisps of white,
the Elder stretches crooked boughs.
Fallen leaves are scarce though not turned white.
Fragile boughs, brittle-aged boughs,
His space held with grace, roots still dug deep.
Hundreds of years, a long, meaningful life;
facing all in stillness, peace laid deep.
Un-chased dreams, no trace of strife—a free life.
Photo courtesy of Isadore Gruye
Inspired by an eight line poem by William Butler Yeats; The Sunday Mini Challenge at Imaginary Garden With Real Toads: http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/
Bodhirose's Blog 
Hannah Gosselin
/ November 18, 2012Oh WOW!! I love your take on this image. I used the same one…I love how you brought personality to the tree and the form flows so smoothly and expresses so much. Nicely done!
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Bodhirose
/ November 18, 2012Thank you, Hannah…I appreciate that!
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Hannah Gosselin
/ November 18, 2012You’re so welcome! 🙂
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scriptorsenex
/ November 18, 2012Those last four lines are brilliant. They so sum up a tree.
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Bodhirose
/ November 18, 2012Why thank you.
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Kerry O'Connor
/ November 18, 2012This is just a most beautiful poem. It is an excellent interpretation of the photo, but would stand alone too.
I love the repetition of this line:
Fragile boughs, brittle-aged boughs… The words resonate.
Thank you for your participation in the RT mini-challenge.
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Bodhirose
/ November 18, 2012Many thanks for your generous compliment, Kerry. It was a challenging prompt which I really enjoyed…and thanks for that too.
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journeyintopoetry
/ November 18, 2012A beautiful poem with a lesson in among its words for us all I think 🙂
Love Christine xxx
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Bodhirose
/ November 18, 2012Thank you for your kind words, Christine. Yes, I think so too. xoxo
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Polly Robinson
/ November 18, 2012Lovely wordplay ~ wishing everyone a free life
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Bodhirose
/ November 18, 2012Yes, to have the stillness of a tree…ahhh.
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ManicDdaily
/ November 18, 2012I sorely need some of this. Well done! k.
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Bodhirose
/ November 18, 2012I hope you get some! Thanks, Karin.
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hedgewitch
/ November 18, 2012Very effective portrait of a tree,(each does have a personality, I think) and an excellent use of the form, Bodhirose. It exhales the peace of a natural existence.
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Bodhirose
/ November 18, 2012Thank you…I think they have personalities too. I love that…”exhales the peace of a natural existence.” Makes me relax just reading it.
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margaretbednar
/ November 18, 2012His space held with grace
and calling the tree and “Elder” lends a lot of dignity to this poem. Trees are one of my favorite things to photograph but am often disappointed as I often feel I failed to capture the uniqueness in each.
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Bodhirose
/ November 18, 2012Difficult to capture the spirit of a tree in a photograph sometimes. I think those ancient trees deserve the respect of our “elders”…they are special souls.
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Marian
/ November 18, 2012ohh, how sentimental… “un-chased dreams.” very nice.
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Bodhirose
/ November 19, 2012That’s what makes him free… Thanks, Marian.
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dragonkatet
/ November 18, 2012🙂 The picture almost looks like the tree branches are holding that cloud! There is something so majestic about very old trees. Your poem did it justice.
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Bodhirose
/ November 19, 2012It sure does. I agree too that old trees are very special beings…thanks, Corina.
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Sherry Marr
/ November 18, 2012Beautifully written. The reader feels the peace , “his space held with grace, roots still dug in deep”. Lovely.
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Bodhirose
/ November 19, 2012Thank you, Sherry…I’m glad the peace came through.
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Jamie Dedes
/ November 19, 2012I don’t believe I’ve ever actually seen an Elder Tree. You paint a lovely picture.
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Bodhirose
/ November 19, 2012I’m meaning that it is an ‘elderly’ tree… Are there Elder trees though…I don’t know. Thanks, Jamie.
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Jamie Dedes
/ November 19, 2012Oh! How silly am I. But, yes – elder/elderberry – I seem to remember it from some John Wayne movie. Anyway … here you go:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sambucus
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Bodhirose
/ November 19, 2012Aww…isn’t it interesting where our minds can take us…that is what you were relating to…those Elderberry trees… Thanks for the link too. And now, of course, I remembered that there are Elder trees though don’t think I ever saw one either.
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Susan
/ November 19, 2012Wonderful portrait. The repeated words–white boughs deep life–are well chosen for the essence you mean to bring out. Odd, isn’t it, how the deep-rooted freedom and peace are just as attractive, or more so, even, than the dancer in the dance? It must have to so with crossing the line between youthful and elderly–which occurs earlier or later in the middle years depending on who we are.
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Bodhirose
/ November 19, 2012It is odd…the tree is “root-bound” but lives his life in peace…steadfast. Well, at least in my mind he does. Thanks for coming by, Susan.
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Susie Clevenger (@wingsobutterfly)
/ November 19, 2012Beautiful….I needed some peace tonight…
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Bodhirose
/ November 19, 2012Ah…so glad I could accommodate you, Susie. Thank you.
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Grace
/ November 19, 2012I love the grace of the elder tree specially these lines:
His space held with grace, roots still dug deep.
Hundreds of years, a long, meaningful life;
Great to see you at the RT Garden ~
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Bodhirose
/ November 19, 2012Thanks for coming by Grace and your appreciation. I hope to be a more regular visitor over there. I always enjoy the prompts…and the group of participants.
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aprille
/ November 19, 2012Nice to present the tree as free even though it is bound by its roots.
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Bodhirose
/ November 19, 2012Yes, he’s totally content and free of desires. Thanks, Aprille.
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Renee Espriu
/ November 19, 2012Love trees and this is a wonderul tribute well written.
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Bodhirose
/ November 20, 2012I love them too…thanks, Renee.
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vivinfrance
/ November 20, 2012Perfect subject for the Yeats exercise. I love the internal rhyme and half-rhyme.
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Bodhirose
/ November 20, 2012Yes, turned out to be a good subject for it. Thanks, Viv!
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Kay L. Davies
/ November 20, 2012The last line leaves me wanting to be that tree. A lovely poem.
K
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Bodhirose
/ November 20, 2012I want to be that tree too. Thanks so much, Kay…
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Sue Dreamwalker
/ November 21, 2012Trees are full of wisdom, and this Elder shows us the way..
beautiful Gayle… thank you xox
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Bodhirose
/ November 23, 2012They are full of many truths…many life lessons to help guide. I love them. You’re welcome, Sue.. xoxo
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SilverGardenia
/ November 21, 2012I love the imagery in this. It’s a wonderful poem.
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Bodhirose
/ November 23, 2012Thank you, SilverGardenia…I appreciate that.
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bardessdmdenton
/ November 30, 2012So much wisdom in trees, even those that are ‘on their last legs.’ I especially love: ‘His space held with grace, roots still dug deep.’
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Bodhirose
/ December 15, 2012I agree, there is something quite wise and regal within them. Thanks, Diane. xo
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