trees

It took time, but it was all they needed

~ ~M ~ 9 Comments

A pot of tea
steeping slow
allowed the conversation
to drift, then flow

A trembling hand
a splatter of cream
all witnessed beneath
a summer sunbeam

Starting with a look
a blooming glance
the wind stirred
in the sight of romance

Blushing boughs offered
a chance alone
doing all the things
some would never condone

With the wide old oak
shielding their play
prying eyes
slowly crept away

Rousing smiles rendered
a half giggle or two
as heartstrings seized
love anew

© 2025 Michelle Cook

Photo generated with AI

Oblivious observations

~ ~M ~ 16 Comments

It was a warm-weathered day as delicate petals pelted and pranced across the pages of an open book. Occasionally, a brisk breeze would materialize, causing a sudden soirée of flowers to take flight, ultimately embellishing the barren pages, which seemed particularly peckish for a poetic phrase. It was as if the tree were purposely parading posies in an attempt to gain the attention of the writer below. But the wordsmith was lost in a world of rhythmic ruminations, never giving the tree a single thought, focusing solely on the stark landscape of her inconsolable book. Had the writer even an inkling about what the tree desired to divulge, she may have taken a moment to meditate, soaking in the silent secrets of her friend above. But as this wasn’t the case, the writer continued to stare blankly, utterly unaware of the many mysteries that were longing to be revealed.

© 2024 Michelle Cook

Photo credit: https://pixabay.com/photos/tree-cherry-field-horizon-nature-6623764/

Life, will I ever?

~ ~M ~ 25 Comments

Life,
it moves us along
at record speed.

I try to dangle
delicately,
occasionally letting
my feet scrape
against the ground.

And as I swing under
my beloved canopy,
I notice the poor old oak
has seen better days.

Brittle bark scatters
like tarnished snowflakes,
and the bough dips
against the weight
of my sways.

But do I stop?

No, I continue on
in careless destruction,
marring my protector
all while biding my time.

I’m still a child; after all,
I do not recognize
my mistakes;
will I ever?

© 2022 Michelle Cook

Photo credit: https://pixabay.com/photos/woman-swing-playground-trees-6722023/

There’s a tree…

~ ~M ~ 24 Comments

There’s a lone tree I see,
reminds me
of what used to be.

I try not to fall under its spell,
as it takes me back to the place
where I once fell.

Looking at it now,
my heart just cries.
Why’d it take me so long
to realize.

Life is good now,
so I turn away,
choosing to leave
all those memories at bay.

© 2022 Michelle Cook

Photo credit: https://pixabay.com/photos/tree-lonely-alone-heaven-stars-4543580/

I remember that day…

~ ~M ~ 41 Comments

I remember the way the branches
curled towards me that day,
the way they swayed to and fro.
It was something
beautifully unexpected,
a miracle of nature,
a divine curiosity.
And I remember standing there
in wide-eyed awe,
losing myself
to the sheer loveliness,
lost in a state
of childlike wonder.
Chills crept down my spine
in delightful little bits,
and goosebumps erupted
as a plethora
of tingling sensations
washed over me
from head to toe.
But the thrill
wasn’t meant to last,
and after one breathless sigh
I blinked,
and the exquisite array vanished.
That was when
the heaviness began to gather
at my feet,
and an unforeseen darkness
approached from a place
I’d never been.
As the winds altered
their direction,
everything changed.
And the wondrous splendor
of that unforgettable day
is still nowhere to be found.

© 2021 Michelle Cook

Photo taken: July 10, 2020 in Milton, WI