Life through Death

By eric1 Jan 12, 2018

Life Through Death

While strolling through the woods one day,
as I walked on that unmade bed,
I came upon an unknown way,
and took the path to where it led.
A Silver Birch to my dismay –

-Lay prone upon that forest floor,
crushing the Red cap on its fall,
This symbol of what was before,
a once proud tree that stood so tall
Where Woodpeckers will peck no more.

Its silver bark both dull and grey,
leaves of green no longer there,
A splendid sight within its day,
no more red buds this tree will bear,
Its slender trunk wasting away.

Once stock of food for woodland bird,
a winter place where Siskins fed,
Beauteous songs no longer heard,
their source of life was lying dead,
To forest floor now well anchored.

Yet even in this tree’s death throe,
it feeds the ground – drenches the earth,
Beneath its corpse new things will grow
producing life – creating birth,
Nature’s own Michelangelo.

Eric Harvey 11/01/2018

About the author

eric1

3250 Up Votes

Hi, I am a grandfather of four beautiful Grandchildren, I have one son and three daughters, We lost Vickie to Cancer in December 2013, she was 23 years old, whoever said time heals haven't lost a child. My profile picture is of Vickie and I haven't changed it since she died, I have a wonderful loving wife without whom I would not have made it through. My escape is writing poetry, I have had five published to date, I now have two books published 'World War One In Verse' is available on Amazon books and 'Poetry From The Heart' is available on Amazon or Feed a Read, just enter the title and my name Eric Harvey. If you love the 50's, 60.s and 70's my new book of poems will take you back to those days, 'A Poetic Trip Along Memory Lane' will jog your memories of bygone days.