The Tree | Teen Ink

The Tree

December 12, 2021
By Lydiaq ELITE, Somonauk, Illinois
Lydiaq ELITE, Somonauk, Illinois
172 articles 54 photos 1026 comments

Favorite Quote:
The universe must be a teenage girl. So much darkness, so many stars.
--me


acorn holds a vision of a tree

rolling under the picnic table by squirrels

crunched by picnickers’ feet.

in the seed you crack

all is present—the sunflower’s dark hundred eyes

an apple core holds the promise of an orchard.

leaf, blossom, pollen—all is here

as the pages of the tree unfold;

here is the light the tree will absorb

the angel feathers landing on its branches

oriole preludes, shade, summer, initials

here are the wings, curled tightly.

free of fear, the seed falls,

as a small dream memory arises from the dark damp night

leaving a curl of a vine growing from death

wispy green.

it’s like to that to have a story inside my head

waiting to fly

from shallow ground

one almond, one white petal at a time

I open my eyes, and I hear the faint symphony

behind my ears, growing steadily, one note at a time

in the spring it becomes the story tree

and I am the gardener; but this story seed

has chosen me—I did not make up the story, it made up me

the story, the music chose me

to be its cave, its hibernation place.

rosy with the May sky, it will creep up

and grow and grow.

For some, a story is the rose thorn, danger, prickles

for me, one petal after another

unfolds and unfolds

in a most beautiful life.


The author's comments:

This is an important poem to me because it represents finding myself, coming of age, and the determination to change into a better person.


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This article has 4 comments.


on Mar. 6 2022 at 9:05 pm
TheRareBreed PLATINUM, Lambertville, Michigan
43 articles 0 photos 60 comments

Favorite Quote:
“The apple doesn't fall far from the tree." I guess that means we're just products of whoever made us and we don't have much control. The thing is, when people use that phrase, they ignore the most critical part: the falling. Within the logic of that saying, the apple falls every single time. Not falling isn't an option. So, if the apple has to fall, the most important question in my mind is what happens to it upon hitting the ground? Does it touch down with barely a scratch? Or does it smash on impact? Two vastly different fates. When you think about it, who cares about its proximity to the tree or what type of tree spawned it? What really makes all the difference, then, is how we land.”
― Val Emmich, Dear Evan Hansen

What a wonderous work Lydiaq. Ive gone through and read a few of them as of this night and I truly am intrigued by your writing style. I am unequivocally awaiting your next works.
-TheRareBreed

Lydiaq ELITE said...
on Dec. 19 2021 at 2:14 pm
Lydiaq ELITE, Somonauk, Illinois
172 articles 54 photos 1026 comments

Favorite Quote:
The universe must be a teenage girl. So much darkness, so many stars.
--me

I sent you one just now.

on Dec. 19 2021 at 2:11 pm
SparrowSun ELITE, X, Vermont
200 articles 23 photos 1053 comments

Favorite Quote:
"It Will Be Good." (complicated semi-spiritual emotional story.)

"Upon his bench the pieces lay
As if an artwork on display
Of gears and hands
And wire-thin bands
That glisten in dim candle play." -Janice T., Clockwork[love that poem, dont know why, im not steampunk]

hows your email going?

Afra ELITE said...
on Dec. 16 2021 at 7:53 pm
Afra ELITE, Kandy, Other
103 articles 7 photos 1819 comments

Favorite Quote:
"A writer must never be short of ideas."
-Gabriel Agreste- (Fictional character- Miraculous)

@Lydiaq, Well Done...Nice Work getting it on Editor's choice...☆☆☆