Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Lessons of the Trees

When strong winds blow your heart around,
you’ve had all you can take,
then face the wind like the willow
that bends but doesn’t break.

When what you’ve done’s the best you can,
you know you gave your all,
then face the wind like the redwood
and stand up straight and tall.

When others make demands on you
to be someone you’re not,
then face the wind like the oak tree
with all the strength you’ve got.

Remember on those windy days,
“to thine ownself be true,”
for every walk through the woodlands
kicks up a nut or two.




8 comments:

  1. Bravo, Velvet.

    I love those little surprise endings.

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  2. I asked my teenage daughters to read this tonight, something I believed they needed! Thanks, that was really beautiful. I think you're a really neat lady ;)

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  3. Velvet, that is beautiful, and it is so true. The picture is just beautiful, too.

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  4. Velvet, I was meant to read your poem this morning!

    I came here via Sandy's site...I'm so glad I did. I will be back to read more!

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  5. So true - we could learn a lot from those trees, I'm sure we all go through those stages.

    Great imagery with the poem - and I know I've kicked up my share of nuts, LOL. Photo was also a treat. Many thanks!

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  6. Thanks, everybody. Your kind words encourage the part of me that used to think it would be fun to write greeting card verses for a living.

    Hmm. When I think about the future and my post-retirement years, the word "greeting" always comes up, but in the context of, "Well, I can always be a Wal-Mart greeter." Writing "greeting" cards would certainly be easier on the feet, wouldn't it. How does one go about findiing that kind of job, I wonder?

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  7. Great post Velvet and a lesson well taught. Bautiful photo.

    Greetings card writer? How about designing and making your own cards!
    You have the nack. :-)
    Sandy

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  8. Sandy, thatks for your vote of confidence, but when you consider the laziness factor...no, I don't think I'd like to make the whole card. It's much easier just to think up a verse in my head while I'm trying to avoid doing anything else meaningful.

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