Like the red-gold and yellow trees I’m shucking leaves - my bones are bare to knife clean air Branches stiff, tall skeletons stark early the dark oaks still weeping winter creeping. Does a tree feel a loss of self - grief on a shelf for all to see like naked me?
Written for MLMM’s Lucky Dip – Minute Poem
(12 lines, 60 syllables, 8,4,4,4 8,4,4,4 8,4,4,4)
Out of the Cave 
I had to look up the North American term ‘shucking’ and in the process learnt what ‘shuck’ is, the double meaning; so I take it in some way you feel exposed, vulnerable like a denuded tree might feel in the powerful last stanza: an adventurous piece and intriguing 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks John. I didn’t know it was North American. And your interpretation is spot on!
LikeLiked by 1 person
thank you; I never quite know where your poems are going to go so each post is an adventure 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, that’s interesting. I hope it’s a good adventure! 🙂
LikeLike
yes; you put a lot of thought and visuals into your posts so they are never boring, a state all writers must avoid 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. That’s a relief that you don’t find them boring. I try to write about stuff that I care about or have a strong response to.
LikeLike
I think that is the best way to write 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
John’s comments are always perceptive! A really strong poem about body awareness. Unfortunately for humans, once each season of life has passed, there’s no going back, no springtime renewal. I like to think I’m at a late Autumn stage, but I might be kidding myself. Who really knows when Winter is coming?😊
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ha ha. This isn’t so much about aging as about my current health anxieties and my upcoming surgery. I never know whether to say it full on or whether to leave it a bit vague and let people form their own ideas.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Right, sorry. Good luck with your surgery!.😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful poem. I usually associate oysters with shucking – possibly also appropriate.
Good luck with the surgery!! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks!!! 💕
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nicely penned
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautifully written, especially the comparison of the speaker with the tree. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. 💕 I so appreciate your feedback.
LikeLike
Good question. They do look like they need a blanket.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love the metaphor and imagery. Beautiful, and also sad.
Sending you health and healing well wishes!
LikeLiked by 1 person