Tree (And Mark's Hives)
Photo by Amy LV
Logs
Photo by Amy LV
Photo by Amy LV
Ash
Photo by Amy LV
Students - It is getting cold near here in Western New York, and coldness means wood fires. Wood fires are all thanks to the trees around here, and today I am thinking how one thing becomes another, about how the wood that is keeping me warm this minute was not long ago a tree in the forest out back. I thought I'd go around and snap a few photographs of this cycle.
You may have heard the expression, "The only constant is change," attributed to a Greek philosopher (person seeking wisdom) named Heraclitus. This means that change is the only thing that stays the same. Life is always changing. One thing is constantly becoming another. I feel eight years old inside, but my body has changed into that of a grown-up. My kittens Tuck and Winnie look like cats now, even though I still think of them as and call them kittens. The ball of wool yarn (once sheep) I purchased has become some cozy handwarmers. That bag of flour in our kitchen (once wheat), is part of the cookies I baked, along with many ingredients which were also once other things.
Just look around. Look at one thing. What was it before? If that thing had a memory that went back and back and back, what might it remember? Think about it. Tell someone. Jot it down.
I encourage you to look at the world with "change eyes" this week. What changes do you notice? What has become something else? How have YOU changed? What does the new object or new you remember of the old object or the old you?
Allow these thoughts to play together in your mind...you will likely have many fabulous new ideas, and perhaps they will lead to writings or pieces of music or artwork. If they do, please let me know.
One more thing to notice. Look at today's poem and find the words that come back around: tree, logs, fire, ash, soil, seed, remember. Repetition in a poem can be your good friend. If you write a poem this week or look at an old one, consider repeating something you already have there.
Matt is hosting today's Poetry Friday roundup at Radio, Rhythm & Rhyme with a first birthday celebration of FRIENDS AND ANEMONES: OCEAN POEMS FOR CHILDREN, a book by members of The Writer's Loft in Sherborn Massachusetts. Please know that all are welcome each Friday as folks share poems, poem books, poetry ideas, and friendship.
I wish everyone a joyful week full of making, discovering, and feeling whole.
xo,
Amy
Please share a comment below if you wish.
How beautiful...the thought and the cycle of life. And, the rhyme makes is so accessible to youngers. I love this poem.
ReplyDeleteEven deep down here in the south, the air has turn cooler and I made my first fire with wood. I love how you turned that experience into this wonderful poem about the circle of life.
ReplyDeleteI love the thinking about one thing turning into another. Your poetry is so very inspiring. You say so much in so few words for such an amazing audience.
ReplyDeleteThoughtful and beautiful, Amy. It gives us pause to consider how - or even how much of - our lives will be rememebered.
ReplyDeleteThoughtful contemplation, Amy. Trees give us much more than heat, don't they?
ReplyDeleteThank you for this lesson in change. It is fertile material for contemplation. We seem to seek the comfort of the known, but in fact we are constantly challenged by change.
ReplyDeleteLove the idea of looking at things through "change eyes." As always, thanks for the inspiration, Amy.
ReplyDeleteThose questions at the end are enough to last a lifetime.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this. The change around us really is a well of inspiration for a poet.
ReplyDeleteAmy, such a sweet poem with the repetition, and yes, THOSE QUESTIONS are enough. The photos you've included are great.
ReplyDeleteI especially the first lines of Circles. And this is such golden advice: Repetition in a poem can be your good friend. If you write a poem this week or look at an old one, consider repeating something you already have there.
ReplyDeleteThanks,
This is lovely, Amy, and a terrific mentor poem. Considering what something, or someone, was "before" yields rich dividends. What a great exercise to share. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous words and images, literal and figurative, dear Amy. I am sharing this wise poem with our First Grade tree-studying friends, as I believe they would find it of interest. I am also tucking a copy in a long-awaited volume from Orion Magazine that just arrived, "Old Growth: The Best Writing About Trees." It won't be complete without your poem. xx
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