The Chain
Today was the first time.
It’s splendor damaged
by strong wind and rain,
the old sugar maple’s
upper branches bent and then
broke and fell into the lower.
A tangled cluster of jenga
limbs and leaves.
Today was the first time
of the year to ascend
another living thing.
There is always a first
time, the tree looks much
lighter now, and breezy
from my feet-on-ground
vantage, viewpoint in the yard.
Tomorrow will be the first time
this year that I sharpen the saw.
17 thoughts on "The Chain"
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the refrain about time, so malleable. so much to talk about, simply cutting away at life, living life.
Very concise! How many poems feature jenga limbs? I feel lighter after reading this!
I love the cut and symmetry of “Today was the first time/….to ascend/another living thing. There is always a first/time,”
Beautiful, Coleman. The saw snapped me out of my reverie at the end.
I agree with Kevin. I’m reading this beautiful pastoral poem, then you end with a line that suggests a kind of violence, sort of like an O. Henry ending.
Love the connected firsts, Coleman. Each link connected to the other. And the “jenga limbs” is dynamite. Wonderful to read you again.
Last line hits hard and I’m not sure why. Finger snaps, all around.
‘Splendor being damaged’ is a beautiful complement to the lessening of weight, and the tree being ‘lighter and breezy.’ Also, the mix of man-made pop culture (such as wooden Jenga) with naturally occurring trees, and man’s interaction with it, is sharp. 👏🏼👏🏼
I love the jenga tree image!
I toast your gift of delving into the nature around you and that is you. Wonderful symbiotic relationship. I picture you slowly and lovingly sharpening a hand saw (reverence for tools).
So visceral! Oh, my heart breaks at the end.
Love the repeat of “Today was the first time’ and movement to ‘Tomorrow will be the first time’
and
how the title lends to chain in time and in change (sharpen the saw)
Great start for the month! I love how the string of “first” weave the stanzas together.
Lovely and heartbreaking.
I agree, A moving, touching, physically resonating poem for me (as you can imagine after reading my poem about things lost…and here you will become the surgeon). I think i have a growing deep relationship with trees. They are my friemds — the cluster behind my house especially. Then, well, you repetition of noting & lamenting “the first time” with impact of Endings is stunning. Thanks. For writing & sharing this
There is always a first/time. Yes. This.
“jenga limbs and leaves.”. Great Image. I love the title as both a chain of events in the poem and the chain of the saw. Provocative!