Saying Goodbye to the Thundercloud Plum Tree
purple leaves and pink petals shed
bare branches wave in the wind
curious bundles of black knot
line the tree’s shaking limbs
ruin the possibility of return
I observe
and prune
and prune
and observe
and prune
cutting more of it away
placing knot-covered branches aside
cutting more of it away
placing knot-covered branches aside
each cut aches
I apologize to the tree for not noticing sooner
I ask for its forgiveness,
though the black knotty sprout is spore-spread and unavoidable
I press my hand against its trunk to thank it for the bit of shade it provided,
for the beauty it shared for the years I watered, fertilized, pruned, and cared
there is no more I can do
than observe, prune, fertilize, and wait
I will uproot it from its stone-circled spot
chop it to bits
listen for its crackle as kindling in the winter fires to come
21 thoughts on "Saying Goodbye to the Thundercloud Plum Tree"
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love how the sound captures both the torment of its dying (“black knotty sprout is spore-spread”) and the anticipation of its return (“crackle as kindling”)
Thank you, Gaby! I am heartbroken that my favorite tree has black knot. : (
Whoa! I did not see that last stanza coming.
Sadly, neither did I. We will have to remove the tree later this summer. I’m heartbroken.
So relatable and sympathetic and sad. Great write!
Thank you, Bud. I will miss that tree.
Oh you speak!! I know this and it does pain and yes. We do as we can. They do the same. Be well tree burn brightly, then travel well.
Beautiful prayer-poem poet.
And to you and yours as well.
Thank you, Coleman. This tree is/was beautiful and sweet. It had a calming effect. I will miss it very much. I know my husband will, too.
Thank you, Coleman. This tree is/was beautiful and sweet. It had a calming effect. I will miss it very much. I know my husband will, too.
I am sorry you lost your beautiful (in look and spirit), Thundercloud Plum Tree. I love the sound held in those three words.
You honor the dying tree well:
“I press my hand against its trunk to thank it for the bit of shade it provided,
for the beauty it shared for the years I watered, fertilized, pruned, and cared”
and know that it will give again in sound and warmth: “listen for its crackle as kindling in the winter fires to come”
Thanks, Pam. I appreciate that you see/feel the care for this tree..💜 It will provide for one last time this winter. Thanks for reading.
Such a beautiful elegy! I love it that your poem looks like a tree with the branches. I’m very fond of this poem. The cracking ending really works.
Thank you, Linda. You know, I didn’t even notice that the poem’s body looks like branches. You brought such a smile to my face with that detail. Thank you so much for reading and for your kind words.
Deeply felt.
Thank you, Joseph.
I’m certain your tree felt the love and care. In the still of winter, listen as its crackle speaks to you and be healed. Lovely tribute!
Thank you so much, Sylvia! Yes, we hope to find healing in that crackling sound. 💜
Nature can be so sweet and so brutal and you capture it here all at once. I love the power and almost inevitable tone of the last stanza.
Thanks, Shaun! Yeah, that inevitability is rough. Thank you for reading and for your kind words.
each cut aches
I apologize to the tree for not noticing sooner
I ask for its forgiveness,
This grabs me because I can relate to it, for all the things I didn’t notice soon enough. For all the things gone so I cannot ask forgiveness.
The tone of this is precious, valuable. Thank you!
Thank you, E.E.
My heart truly broke when the black knot was confirmed. It’s been destroying fruit trees up here in Orange County, NY, and the wet conditions and the quick snap of heat we got in May (that disappeared until this week) has only made the conditions ideal for that nasty stuff to spread to more trees.
Thank you for reading and for your kind words. 💜