Monday, January 21, 2019

Shamelessly Growing Sideways



Beside the ancient, sprawling honeysuckle bush,
A young apple tree leans in
And fights for her share of the sun.
Of all the trees in our backyard orchard,
She is voted least likely to succeed.

Her trunk nearly parallel to the ground,
She strains toward the sun.
Branches that should spread from side to side
Instead soar skyward.

We fret about this state of affairs.

What a shame, we sigh,
As we consider corrective measures
To help her grow properly.
Stakes and twine are put in order.
Websites are consulted.
We trim the honeysuckle branches to no avail.

Maybe best to cut down the twisted tree
To make way for a better fit?

Nevertheless, her trunk presses sideways,
Tearing up well-meaning stakes,
Sending boughs skyward, shrugging off our dismay.

Months later, the little tree puts our concerns to rest.

After shamelessly growing sideways,
Chasing her beloved sun,
This misshapen lady,
With horizontal trunk and vertical branches,
Bears more fruit than all the others combined.

(c) Judith C Evans 2019


Shared with Poetry Pantry #439 at Poets United





8 comments:

Cecilia Marie Pulliam said...

Isn't this so much like life, the unseemly exceeding our expectations? Thank you for sharing another of God's beautiful lessons.

tonispencer said...

I like this apple tree a lot. I have a plum tree that grows along the ground, blown down by a hurricane a few years ago. Beautiful blooms and enough sweet plums to share with the local wild animals and me.

Sherry Blue Sky said...

Persistence pays off.......given the slightest encouragement, trees will bear fruit. As a gardener in my younger years, I really enjoyed this poem.

Whitesnake said...

Better sideways than backwards.

Rosemary Nissen-Wade said...

Oh, what a great story, engagingly told!

Thotpurge said...

There's much to be said for the rebel/ maverick! Nicely done!

Judith C Evans said...

Toni, that plum tree has a great story! :)

Thank you Sherry, I love gardening too!

True, Whitesnake! ;)

Glad you enjoyed it, Rosemary!

Judith C Evans said...

Thank you Cecilia, I agree that there is a life lesson here. :)

Glad you enjoyed it, Thotpurge. I have a soft spot for the rebel/maverick!