Weeping Willow - Sweeping Reply Poem by Jonathan ROBIN

Hoar headstones guard old bones, in time each must
see even weeping willow swept away.
Climatic cycles transform marsh to dust
compromising lakeside tree's brief stay.

Fears which with tears faced Death's danced interplay
must give the nod to sod when chased is lust.
The potter spins, limbs underpin limned clay,
wheels weal beyond unjust decay, cussed [c]rust.

No morn need mourn with darkness peeled away
concealment's [c]reed unreeled as trust through trust
helps healed heart start, reveals heaved pulse display
defray flesh phase, phrase future with fresh thrust.

Still, let will spill deep sorrow willow weeps,
till trace lost through strange change tomorrow reaps.

No light-winged dryad teams trees' streams descend,
no steward ents amid rush brake may move.
Stealthy Time shirks wealth, pride's trace removes,
while silent roots tomorrow's shoots extend.
Crowned canopy and branchwork downward send
through subtle photosynthesis light's waves,
while upward rising sap from root-tapped caves
well weaves well's spells, gives leave for leaves to tend
branches which to passing breezes bend,
beckon in entrancing dance no slaves
could emulate. Ddream-theme scene setting saves
much midnight magic stored for future friend.
Along time's river willows bank dew, keep
due streaming vigil till fate slates Styx sleep.


30 March 2005 revised 29 November 2006 23 April 2008 and 26 October 2021

robi03_1180_king06_0002

Response to

SIGH OF THE REAPER
The gravestones sit beneath a canopy
of mossy willow limbs that bow and sway.
The Reaper sings in haunting melodies
as night devours the dusty light of day.

The hills are cold with death, the dampened sod
is soft like pillows filled with bitter tears.
The darkness swallows all who've dared to trod
this pathway paved with lost, forgotten fears.

At dawn the sky is grey, the moonlight wanes.
The secrets of the dead are safely kept
neath gnarled branches dripping with disdain
and murky tears that grieving ones have wept.

By day the sorrow spills neath hazy skies,
by nightfall hear the Reaper's hollow sigh.

M.A.King
29 May 2005



for previous versions see below

Hoar headstones guard old bones, in time each must
sweep weeping willow's souvenir away.
When cycle turns, stone band turns sandy dust
to flake stretched grief, etched sojourn's fleeting stay.

Fears which with tears faced Death's danced interplay
must give the nod to sod when chased is lust.
The potter spins, limbs underpin limned clay,
wheels weal beyond unjust decay, cussed [c]rust.

No morn need mourn with darkness peeled away
concealment's [c]reed unreeled as trust through trust
helps healed heart start, reveals heaved pulse display
defray flesh phase, phrase future with fresh thrust.

Still, let will spill the sorrow willow weeps,
fulfilled soul, whole, refilled, tomorrow reaps.

No light-winged dryad teams trees' streams descend,
no steward ents amid day's brake may move,
time works with stealth, shirks wealth, pride's trace remove,
while silent roots tomorrow's shoots extend.

Crowned canopy and branchwork downward send
through subtle photosnthesis light's waves,
while upward rises sap from root-tapped caves
well weave well's spells, give leave for leaves to tend

new shoots which to the passing breezes bend
in dance entrancing, beckoning - no slaves
could emulate the dream-theme scene which saves
much midnight magic stored for future friend.

Along time's river willows bank dew, keep
due streaming watch 'til all turn in Styx sleep.

30 March 2005 revised 29 November 2006 and 23 April 2008


Weeping Willow - Sweeping Reply

Though gravestones guard old bones in time each must
[s]weep weeping willow's memory away
When cycle turns, baked stone returns to dust
to flake stretched grief, etched souvenir's short stay.

Fears which with tears faced Death's danced interplay
must give the nod to sod when chased is lust.
The potter spins, limbs underpin limned clay
wheels weal beyond unjust decay, cussed [c]rust.

No morn need mourn with darkness peeled away
concealment's [c]reed unreeled as trust through trust
helps healed heart start, reveals heaved pulse display.
Defray flesh phase, phrase future with fresh thrust.

Still, let will spill the sorrow willow weeps,
fulfilled soul, whole, refilled, tomorrow reaps...

30 March 2005
see
UNWINNOWED WILLOW
Crowned canopy through branchwork downward sends
light's waves with subtle photosynthesis.
From root-tapped caves, sap rises, windward wends
well's spells, weaves leaves, leaves Nature's niche attend
fresh twigs that passing breezes blending bend.
Entrancing dance, no copy dream-theme, this
scene stores much magic. Silent roots extend.
tomorrow's shoots as timed rings reminisce.

Athwart greensward will sorrow willow weep
spent seconds Chronos culls as harvest reap.
Along time's river willows bank dew, keep
due streaming watch till all turns to Styx sleep.

26 December 2011 revised 17 December 2016
for previous version see below

Crowned canopy through branchwork downward send
with subtle photosynthesis light's waves,
while upward rising sap from root-tapped caves
weaves well's spells, leaves leaves to tend
fresh twigs that passing breezes bend
in dance entrancing, beckoning - no slaves
could copy dream-theme scene which saves
magic stored for future friend.


26 December 2011