Reading Trees

[Tom Balch]

I see their names carved in the trunk
encompassed in a heart
the date below is years ago,
I wonder where they are.

A penknife, key or rusty nail
I wonder what they used
to carve their love for all to see
in the trunk of this old Oak tree.

When finished did they laugh and kiss
a kiss to seal the deal,
did it last are they still a pair
alas the date it tells me no.

Nineteen fourteen says it all
could have been the night before
he had to go away from her
it must have been a wrench,
I do so hope he made it home
from some filthy mud-filled trench.

Jim and Doreen still together
encompassed in this heart
they carved so many years ago
before they had to part…

[Cindy]

This is lovely. Well, their names are still together on the tree. Still telling of their love after all these years.

[Sandra Martyres]

The story of lasting love so well told in this poem... Strangely enough I have been writing a poem on the tortured tree with all these love pledges carved on its bark...

[Stella]

trees hold many secrets, they see many lives played out like memory boxes of forgotten lovers..

[Seema Chowdhury]

A beautiful write

[Nightmute]

A beautiful and poignant write, Tom. Time does not negate the feelings of the heart, to be sure, and we can, years later, look upon such signs and testimonies of it and know that love is such a powerful, wonderful force.