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Tree of Life (Haiku) by ALChemy
A lone winter birch filled with leaves bright red. They sing, then fly to warm nests.

Up the ladder: sunset
Down the ladder: The Fire of My Mind

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Arithmetic Mean: 4.75
Weighted score: 4.970199
Overall Rank: 8467
Posted: January 25, 2006 11:36 AM PST; Last modified: January 25, 2006 11:36 AM PST
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Comments:
[n/a] ecargo @ 167.219.0.143 | 25-Jan-06/12:03 PM | Reply
Ah, but birch leaves turn yellow in fall, not red. And you seldom see one alone (they like their own kind).

Pedantic, sure. ;-D

How 'bout a nice boxelder? No one ever writes about boxelders (except maybe Stephen Malkmus).
[n/a] Alizarin_Crimson @ 71.131.189.202 > ecargo | 25-Jan-06/12:49 PM | Reply
Maybe not in California.
[n/a] ALChemy @ 24.74.101.159 > Alizarin_Crimson | 25-Jan-06/12:54 PM | Reply
Your thinking The Crimson Birch or the Red Birch right. I checked to make sure they didn't fit the bill. The red is intentional. Read it and think about it. It'll don on you I promise.
[n/a] ALChemy @ 24.74.101.159 > ALChemy | 25-Jan-06/1:05 PM | Reply
I'm sorry that probably didn't come out quite right. For all I know, you did figure it out. I'm just sleepy so my comments are coming out all wrong.
[n/a] ecargo @ 167.219.0.142 > ALChemy | 25-Jan-06/1:17 PM | Reply
haaa--whatta dope; see what happens when you (i.e., I) just respond all knee-jerk and whatnot? I've been spending a lot of time lately in these eastern woods; I sometimes forget there's a wider world out there.

Still not getting it though. Birds (like cardinals--such winter birds too) seems much too literal. Is your title a clue? If not, maybe it should be.
[n/a] ALChemy @ 24.74.101.159 > ecargo | 25-Jan-06/7:32 PM | Reply
Nope that's pretty much it. Just thought that was a neat image worth haikuing. Just the image of seeing a birch in winter that appears to be filled with pretty red leaves and then realizing they're a large flock of cardinals as they fly off. The image seems to lend itself to some symbolism the reader can make their own. I hope your not disappointed.
[n/a] ecargo @ 172.132.83.165 > ALChemy | 25-Jan-06/7:34 PM | Reply
No, I think I'm relieved. All those birds flew right over my poor pedantic, literal head and I thought I didn't see them.
[n/a] ALChemy @ 24.74.101.159 > ecargo | 25-Jan-06/7:38 PM | Reply
I'm glad you got it, after all, your poem inspired it.
[8] amanda_dcosta @ 203.145.159.44 | 25-Jan-06/6:10 PM | Reply
Does this have to be precicely accurate or correct in matter, i mean about the red/yellow leaves? I wouldn't know the difference. See, you guys are influencing my vote thought now. I might have commented spontaneously but now I keep wondering whether the matter is correct. All the same... its good. Poetic imagery of bright red leaves then it is!
[n/a] ecargo @ 172.132.83.165 > amanda_dcosta | 25-Jan-06/7:52 PM | Reply
amanda_dcosta: there are birches with red leaves, apparently--I was seeing it through my own geographical filter (where birches with red leaves would be unusual). Does it matter that it's precise, correct? That's for you to decide. For me? Depends on context and purpose--I don't mind poetic license for point or purpose or even effect, but if I read something as literal (I do, too often), then I like it to be pretty accurate. OTOH, I've "leafed" trees in birds, so who am I to judge?
[n/a] Dovina @ 17.255.240.138 | 25-Jan-06/6:30 PM | Reply
Tree of Life could be from Genesis and Eden, or it could be the evolutionary tree of species. I go with the latter, but it's vague.
[n/a] ALChemy @ 24.74.101.159 > Dovina | 25-Jan-06/7:50 PM | Reply
What things appear to be and what they are can be different.
[n/a] Dovina @ 17.255.240.138 > ALChemy | 25-Jan-06/9:15 PM | Reply
And can we know what they are?
[n/a] ALChemy @ 24.74.101.159 > Dovina | 26-Jan-06/4:46 AM | Reply
Just the image of seeing a birch in winter that appears to be filled with pretty red leaves and then realizing they're a large flock of cardinals as they fly off.
[n/a] Dovina @ 69.175.32.104 > ALChemy | 26-Jan-06/1:57 PM | Reply
That's a great scene. Wish I'd gotten it.
[8] Ranger @ 62.252.32.15 | 28-Jan-06/4:48 AM | Reply
It makes me wish I'd seen such a scene in my life.
[3] Edna Sweetlove @ 85.210.14.1 | 17-May-06/7:37 AM | Reply
Odd. Are you saying the leaves fly to warm nests? That's a bit esoteric.
[n/a] ALChemy @ 71.75.176.68 > Edna Sweetlove | 17-May-06/7:43 AM | Reply
Esoteric is a good word to describe it.
That's usually a sign of a great poem.
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