FIRMLY ROOTED
Firmly rooted
Standing tall, with dignity
even as others fall prey
to greedy humans
Somehow I am spared
Perhaps those knotty bits
that grew on my sides over the years
were a blessing after all
I saw men with loud instruments
coming to get me and all my friends
I used my “get the hell away” stance
That and the blotches seemed to help
They must have thought
there was something wrong with me
Disease or some other imperfection
But really, I’m just stubborn
Someday they may literally take me as I am
but my prayer is that lightning lay me down
And when I fall… if no one is there to hear it
Will I make a sound? You’re damn right I will!
© 2010 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
Sharp Little Pencil 
Kitty
Thanks for commenting on my blog entry. Thought I would come and have a look at yours. 🙂
I really liked the poem. I felt the tree’s anger and agreed with it. Thanks for sharing this.
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks for visiting. Sleepy Kitties are always welcome at our place, hee hee. Yes, I was in touch with that sense of injustice tied in with the tree’s strength. Thx! Amy
whimsygizmo
Love this, Amy! What a wonderful visual!
Sharp Little Pencil
Thx, De. I tried to picture it rather than merely feel it, so I guess that worked! THe more poetry I write, the more I’m trying to branch out… oops, I really didn’t mean the pun. But you know, try other ways of looking at my subjects, less internalizing. See you soon! Love to J, Z, and A – Amy
vivinfrance
You have placed yourself under the skin of this tree beautifully. Resist, resist, resist.
your comment to De: I love puns. Carry on branching out.
Sharp Little Pencil
Viv, thank you for getting the personification of the tree. Now I’ll “make like a tree and leaf” to check out your blog, which I visit often!
tillybud
Love the last line!
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, hon. I’m on the way to checking out your blog!
Deborah
Brilliant .. I loved the ending!
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Deborah – and now on to your blog to see what’s up!
gautami tripathy
Do you know this is my blog URL? firmlyrooted
Needless to say, I liked it.
a child’s play
And do get aboard the Poetry Train every Monday mornings and thereafter!
Sharp Little Pencil
I read your blog a lot – the title must have stuck with me! Hope you are flattered by that, because it’s an excellent title for your project. You are, in fact, quite firmly rooted in belief and in dedication to the craft. I’ll take a look at child’s play and comment there, also will check out Poetry Train, although I’m already doing two other prompts on Thursdays and one on Wednesday!!. Thanks, Gautami! Amy
sheilaeh
this tree is not passive…reminds me of someone..hmmmm
i think that sharp little pencil got some redwood tree holding the lead!
‘but my prayer is that lightening lay me down’..beautiful line..
and a perfect ending ! feisty tree..!
and you personified your redwood as did i..
yep..wrote one and coz of you got a blog..(!?)
yoy!
scary like getting locked out on the lawn naked!
still figuring it out..
thanks so much for the ‘push’
Sharp Little Pencil
Hey, I’m glad you’re doing the blog! More great stuff to read. And you nailed the entire meaning of the poem, which is great, thanks. You SO get me, and I know it’s mutual.
You didn’t need much of a push… a nudge maybe!!
sheilaeh
i am so happy to have found your response..
yep..
and how uncanny we are mirroring our actions,finishing and starting sentences and thoughts with ? a couple hundred miles and a state line of separation?
who ARE you Amy BL? my long lost litter mate..i think so….
Sharp Little Pencil
We play in the same sandbox. It’s the one located to the far left of the bigger one!
amanda
I hope all the redwoods are as stubborn as yours is, they are so majestic would hate to ever see them go….
Sharp Little Pencil
Redwoods will be the last endangered species. They are tough cookies and national treasures. But then again, so were bald eagles, and they almost were made extinct. It’s up to us to protect wilderness!