22 November 2023

Distress Signals

 


And this our life, exempt from public haunt,
Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks,
Sermons in stones, and good in every thing.
~from Shakespeare's As You Like It

Act 2, 1: 14–17

 

 

If you hear the roaring of the wild,
become its tongue and broadcast
its distress signals in your own language.
 
Cry, Why cut me? and I am love! 
(Don't forget the love in grief, OH!)
Deepen the roar, discover the lyrics,
 
and participate in the song trees sing
now, not yesterday.  Be like the wind:
See how the wind lifts the trees’ voices?


 For Sherry's prompt "The Tongues of Falling Trees" at What's Going on?


My blog poems are rough drafts.
Please respect my copyright.
© 2023 Susan L. Chast


6 comments:

  1. Mary11/22/2023 9:03 AM

    I like the idea of becoming the tree's tongue and speaking for it in its distress. Louder, ever louder....who will hear? Who will listen?

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  2. Sumana Roy12/06/2023 10:00 AM

    "If you hear the roaring of the wild, / become its tongue"...Yes, this is our part to do. We must do that to lift the voice in distress. Such a timely poem.

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  3. Sherry Blue Sky12/06/2023 12:18 PM

    This is so lovely, Susan. "Why cut me? I am love!" is just so true. How we despoil the beauty of this planet! This is a beautiful tree-tongue poem. I recall how you loved the tree in your yard at your former home.

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  4. Kim M. Russell12/06/2023 12:40 PM

    I love this poem of sounds, Mary: the ‘roaring of the wild,’ the distress signals, lyrics, tree songs and voices.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Eileen T O'Neill .....12/07/2023 12:38 PM

    Susan,
    I love the ability to hear the voices of the trees. It truly encourages a deeper appreciation for the trees around our surroundings and to act on those voices..

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous12/10/2023 3:40 PM

    This is Susie Clevenger...Your poem moves me. I spent my whole life in love with trees. Your eloquent poem gives voice to the pain of trees losing their lives to men.

    ReplyDelete

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