Poems from a Pensive Poet
Viewing comments for Chapter 11 "Ode to a Hickory Stump"Verses from my heart
26 total reviews
Comment from Sankey
Great writing where did you get the owl or did he come along all by his self hehe? Perhaps a porcelain owl? Good writing as usual.
We had a 2000 yr old tree rising above a house opposite us for years until it was cut down a few years ago.
My wife used to look out our bedroom window in the mornings at it and she was a bit n=melancholy over it's loss. Might see if I can find her little story about her feelings on the missed tree. Thanks again.
reply by the author on 19-Aug-2013
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Great writing where did you get the owl or did he come along all by his self hehe? Perhaps a porcelain owl? Good writing as usual.
We had a 2000 yr old tree rising above a house opposite us for years until it was cut down a few years ago.
My wife used to look out our bedroom window in the mornings at it and she was a bit n=melancholy over it's loss. Might see if I can find her little story about her feelings on the missed tree. Thanks again.
Comment Written 19-Aug-2013
reply by the author on 19-Aug-2013
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Thank you so much for the six stars and the nice comments. The owl is one of those plastic things that is supposed to deter other small wildlife from dining on our garden. It does work very well. I hate it when we lose a tree. But bad winds have taken down quite a few.
Beth
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We had problems with Bottle Brush trees see if I can find a picture of one for you. When in flower they have a nice red 'flower' looking like well a "*bottle brush" used to used them for washing up glass milk or soft drink bottles before the advent of "pet" or plastic bottles. Anyway the roots of the *BB tree were looking for water and due to our 5 year drought we had a few years ago the roots often got into the sewer lines of homes...so now around St Clair (our suburb) you will no0tice a lack of a lot of the old wandering root kind of trees...another story about the problems I had with our council about removing it. Maybe a future submission for my Portfolio huh! Thanks for reading.
Comment from Spitfire
Best entry I've read yet! This is what an ode should be. Praise indeed for an object or friend, in this case, both. You honor the determination of this stump especially in the last stanza, words that could apply to humans too. Bravo.
reply by the author on 19-Aug-2013
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Best entry I've read yet! This is what an ode should be. Praise indeed for an object or friend, in this case, both. You honor the determination of this stump especially in the last stanza, words that could apply to humans too. Bravo.
Comment Written 18-Aug-2013
reply by the author on 19-Aug-2013
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Thank you so much for the review and nice comments. I'm so glad you like this.
Beth
Comment from fdgsr
A nicely written poem with feeling and meaning. Technically, it is without flaw. Now a small criticism: The fake awl and the box of matches. What is the symbolism there? One scientific technicality is the bracket fungi, not lichens, though there are certainly lichens on the dead hickory stump, they are not in view so much as the bracket fungi. Yet both bracket fungi and lichens exhibit a mutual dependence of two species. Call it poetic license and I'll accept it. I love the poem.
reply by the author on 18-Aug-2013
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A nicely written poem with feeling and meaning. Technically, it is without flaw. Now a small criticism: The fake awl and the box of matches. What is the symbolism there? One scientific technicality is the bracket fungi, not lichens, though there are certainly lichens on the dead hickory stump, they are not in view so much as the bracket fungi. Yet both bracket fungi and lichens exhibit a mutual dependence of two species. Call it poetic license and I'll accept it. I love the poem.
Comment Written 18-Aug-2013
reply by the author on 18-Aug-2013
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Thank you so much for the review and comments. Your criticisms are well taken. Yes the owl is a fake and is there to ward off creatures that which to dine on the vegetable not seen in the photo. I didn't take the picture for the sake of the poem so there is no symbolism intended. I'm glad you pointed out the bracket fungi because I wondered what it was called. Still I'll take poetic license if you will. I don't plan to get too scientific. I'm glad you like the poem.
Beth
Comment from Jokerswild
Well done! Your words and phrases flow extremely well. This is a simple piece that opens up to a lesson we could all learn from. The changes through life need not mean a decline into uselessness but a metamorphosis into something different. Good luck in the contest. This looks like it should be a contender.
Jackie
reply by the author on 18-Aug-2013
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Well done! Your words and phrases flow extremely well. This is a simple piece that opens up to a lesson we could all learn from. The changes through life need not mean a decline into uselessness but a metamorphosis into something different. Good luck in the contest. This looks like it should be a contender.
Jackie
Comment Written 18-Aug-2013
reply by the author on 18-Aug-2013
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Thank you Jackie, I really appreciate the review, comments and good wishes.
Beth
Comment from Norbanus
A worthy ode to worthy tree
you've left stand for all to see
The lichens claim the squirrels abode
We watch as all those lives erode.
reply by the author on 18-Aug-2013
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A worthy ode to worthy tree
you've left stand for all to see
The lichens claim the squirrels abode
We watch as all those lives erode.
Comment Written 18-Aug-2013
reply by the author on 18-Aug-2013
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Thank you so much fellow poet. I appreciate the review and the rhyme you share with me.
Beth
Comment from barleygirl
Great "ode" . . . love it when people think of a most unusual object to write about, especially to praise highly & in exalted terms! Hail to the stump! Your poem shows creativity & originality, but even more than that, there's a lesson to take away, too. I really love a stump that can be used as a pedestal for decorating! Good luck!
reply by the author on 18-Aug-2013
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Great "ode" . . . love it when people think of a most unusual object to write about, especially to praise highly & in exalted terms! Hail to the stump! Your poem shows creativity & originality, but even more than that, there's a lesson to take away, too. I really love a stump that can be used as a pedestal for decorating! Good luck!
Comment Written 18-Aug-2013
reply by the author on 18-Aug-2013
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Thank you so much for the review and great comments. It was very hard to find something original to praise. Everything, I put in the search engine had been written about many times. I guess there is very little new under the sun.
Beth
Comment from TheWriteTeach
Your piece is reminiscent of 'The Giving Tree' by Shel Silverstein. While the tree is alive it gives and gives. Then in death, it continues to give. You did a nice with this. It flows well from line to line and from stanza to stanza. It all makes sense, leaving nothing to wonder about or question. Nice job.
One thing needs attention. The third stanza from the bottom has a simple typo. You wrote truck rather than trunk.
Overall, this is very well written. Good luck in the contest. I think this piece will be a contender for sure.
Suzanne
reply by the author on 18-Aug-2013
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Your piece is reminiscent of 'The Giving Tree' by Shel Silverstein. While the tree is alive it gives and gives. Then in death, it continues to give. You did a nice with this. It flows well from line to line and from stanza to stanza. It all makes sense, leaving nothing to wonder about or question. Nice job.
One thing needs attention. The third stanza from the bottom has a simple typo. You wrote truck rather than trunk.
Overall, this is very well written. Good luck in the contest. I think this piece will be a contender for sure.
Suzanne
Comment Written 18-Aug-2013
reply by the author on 18-Aug-2013
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Thank you so much for your review and delightful comments and for pointing out the typo. Also I appreciate you telling me about The Giving Tree. I looked it up and read it. It was excellent and I'm glad you shared that.
Beth
Comment from SaluteDobby
Hi Beth,
This was really good! The smooth flow and simple words made it a pleasure to read. I loved the moral at the end-be helpful to people.
All the best in the contest!
reply by the author on 18-Aug-2013
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Hi Beth,
This was really good! The smooth flow and simple words made it a pleasure to read. I loved the moral at the end-be helpful to people.
All the best in the contest!
Comment Written 18-Aug-2013
reply by the author on 18-Aug-2013
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Thank you so much for the review and the excellent comments and good wishes.
Beth
Comment from Dorothy Farrell
This is a lovely entry for the Ode Poetry Contest. Unusual until I read why you chose it. This wonderful tree, though blown down by strong winds, still serves a purpose. Lichen grows on it and birds use it. This is a worthy Ode. Good Luck in the contest. Regards Dorothy
reply by the author on 18-Aug-2013
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This is a lovely entry for the Ode Poetry Contest. Unusual until I read why you chose it. This wonderful tree, though blown down by strong winds, still serves a purpose. Lichen grows on it and birds use it. This is a worthy Ode. Good Luck in the contest. Regards Dorothy
Comment Written 18-Aug-2013
reply by the author on 18-Aug-2013
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Thank you Dorothy. Your review and great comments are much appreciated.
Beth
Comment from nancy_e_davis
Your truck[trunk] once sturdy
Wow this is a wonderful Ode to a hickory stump. You showed our lives remain useful even after death. What a great metaphor. I really like this Beth. Kudos Nancy
reply by the author on 18-Aug-2013
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Your truck[trunk] once sturdy
Wow this is a wonderful Ode to a hickory stump. You showed our lives remain useful even after death. What a great metaphor. I really like this Beth. Kudos Nancy
Comment Written 18-Aug-2013
reply by the author on 18-Aug-2013
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Thank you so much Nancy. I really appreciate your insightful remarks and thank you also for pointing out the typo.
Beth