Branching Out
Synaptic offshoots reaching frayed
Spreading from the roots time saved
Standing calm past wind-waved howling
Memory challenged, blue sky surrounding
Leafless, open, elements routing
Cloudless, minus any doubting
Branching out to find a way
Not thinking over
Life each day
_______________
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Cheers
Dustus Blog 
July 13, 2010 at 8:01 am
I like this. Often I think of trees and their symbolic structure/ beauty in our world even with leaves lacking. (also sometimes the metaphor of feeling like one, except not quite so firmly rooted) Wonderfully written. Definitely open to the elements, another emotion I sometimes feel! =) Really enjoying your writing Adam, your style is interesting, makes me want to read more! =) And I shall…~April
July 13, 2010 at 8:16 am
April, so glad you like the work. That was incredibly nice of you the other day to give Charles, Leslie, and me a shout out on your blog. As for the image, it’s something I pass by all the time when I run. That tree looks a bit out-of-place to me, and that may be why I like it. Anyhow, thanks for continuing to read my blog. Cheers! 🙂
July 13, 2010 at 2:48 pm
Tweeted a reply earlier, however…the “out of place” don’t seem so out of place to me, as I have an oddity (or maybe not so odd) that connects very well to the out of place sort, so I can relate to your impressions upon it. As far as you, Charles, Leslie, the thankfulness, such a gift to encounter such wonderful writers. Sometimes what some may view as a simplicity in words, can effect more profoundly than realized. (A huge thanks to Leslie, as she has directed me to find/discover a bit more, than sometimes lately I’ve allowed myself the opportunity in.) =) The gratefulness circles to all I’m becoming acquainted with, hence the write following. =) ~ Your writing is a gift to view. ~ Hope your day is great! ~April
July 13, 2010 at 5:58 pm
I’m glad that you’re enjoying and learning from the experience. It’s not easy posting some times, but the feedback, mutual respect, and rapport that develops is remarkable. Keep on enjoying it, April.
Cheers!
http://betweenhearts75.wordpress.com/
July 13, 2010 at 11:30 am
I like how you look at this barren tree in a positive life. If it were a person it would be open minded embracing the world.
Nicely penned Adam
Happy Tuesday – you know what tomorrow is???
One Shot Wednesday – see ya there
July 13, 2010 at 12:26 pm
Thanks, Leslie. Looking forward to One Shot!
July 13, 2010 at 1:19 pm
i really like the second stanza as it speaks to me…how the tree just lives, branching out without worry or over thinking, exploring…nice write dustus!
July 13, 2010 at 2:22 pm
Go with flow and keep exploring, especially in writing… cool way to look at it Brian
July 13, 2010 at 1:25 pm
Yes, that bare tree has a future… a future as bright as the day it is living in!
Thanks for this poem on optimism (well, i saw it that way)… it was very refreshing!
Have a great week ahead! And c ya tomorrow @OSW!!! 🙂
July 13, 2010 at 2:18 pm
Look forward to reading your poem tomorrow, Kavita. Enjoyed the one I read earlier today!
cheers
July 13, 2010 at 1:41 pm
Here I go with my strange take. I see the tree as a warning sign. Our lives can be looked at as short if we face every little change with frustration and stress. Our branching ceases and we become a symbol of letting the times get the best of us. Those of us who seem to take each set back and branch out, ever-increasing our experiences, begin to grow new branches. I think they end up calling that experience which may lead to wisdom? “Life each day.” 🙂 Thank-you Adam, for another great poem and photo.
July 13, 2010 at 2:35 pm
That’s not a strange take AT ALL! Despite how things may seem, don’t ever give up. A close look at the tree reveals the tiniest couple of leaves on the topmost branches. It’s that detail that seems life-affirming to me. It’s a choice how to interpret that, and wisdom through “life each day” changes how such scenes are perceived. Thank you, Leslie. Insightful reading on your part. Appreciate it 🙂
July 13, 2010 at 11:30 pm
🙂 Now you have me chuckling. Thank-you for pointing that out! I thought those dark dots were birds. 🙂
July 13, 2010 at 2:59 pm
what a thought provoking poem!
being old but wise is cool,
thank you for sharing!
July 13, 2010 at 3:35 pm
Hey Jingle! Old and wise can be very cool sometimes. Thanks for the visit and always spreading your cheer(s)!
Have an excellent week. I’m trying to keep up with everything over here. Appreciate the encouragement, always 🙂 It helps
July 13, 2010 at 3:11 pm
Branching out to find a way… this line is so full of hope along with… Spreading from the roots time saved… speaks that it is firmly planted…Is this metaphoric for yourself? That’s what I was feeling as I read this piece.
And the photo… such crisp saturation of the blues and greens with the tree in great contrast as focal point… just beautiful composition here ahhhh….Heartspell
July 13, 2010 at 3:42 pm
Heartspell, I have to say your generous comments help my self-esteem. Not kidding, I printed the one you left on the book excerpt reading. I always wanted to take a picture of that tree. Pass by it all the time. That sky is not photoshopped blue either. lol Metaphor for myself?…. I’m never completely certain 🙂 lol thank you
July 13, 2010 at 10:57 pm
I am touched that you think I can lift up your esteem, but I am only mirroring back to you what I see here…I hope you see it as well when you read your lovely pieces and see these beautiful photos…we are just blessed that you choose to share them with us. Heartspell
July 13, 2010 at 4:14 pm
It seems life is so simple for a tree… If only we could so easily be the same.
July 13, 2010 at 5:00 pm
I’m learning to relish the simple things in life throughout the journey. It helps. Thanks for your comment, JRM 🙂
July 13, 2010 at 4:27 pm
I almost love winter trees the most. I like how you present the expanding branches as Being.
July 13, 2010 at 5:02 pm
As you know, Ruth, snow-covered Michigan trees look lovely in winter 🙂 Appreciate you stopping by!
July 13, 2010 at 5:28 pm
Great ecological insight here. Enjoyed it.
July 13, 2010 at 5:43 pm
Thanks, Anthony. Great magazine you posted, as usual. Enjoyed it very much.
July 13, 2010 at 6:52 pm
That is so palpaple in our lives too…that is how I read it anyway. Branching out to find a way, Not thinking over…..Life each day! Speaks to my heart. Have a wonderful week Adam x
July 14, 2010 at 8:46 am
You too Amanda! Have a great week. Thanks for commenting x
July 13, 2010 at 7:52 pm
Excellent. I find such symbolism in trees. Have something in my drafts, I just did on trees! Love your words and the pic. I love how you always find such good pictures to accompany your thoughts.
July 14, 2010 at 8:47 am
Hey Suzicate. Thanks. look forward to reading what emerges from your drafts 🙂
July 13, 2010 at 8:31 pm
Great writing!
July 14, 2010 at 8:48 am
Thank you 🙂
July 13, 2010 at 8:59 pm
It is not over until it is really over…we got to branch out all the time, even when we are leafless, open and bare. Nice message.
Congrats on being in the one stop team…great news.
Cheers!
July 14, 2010 at 8:51 am
Thanks, Em. Yeah, sometimes we branch out and don’t even realize it while it’s happening. Also, thanks for taking part in One Shot 🙂 Cheers!
July 13, 2010 at 9:19 pm
Lovely piece dedicted to a simple branch – encompassing and breathing in earth and sky all around it….bkm
July 14, 2010 at 8:52 am
Cool. Glad you like it. And thanks for joining the One SHot fun 🙂
Cheers, bkm!
July 13, 2010 at 9:38 pm
Yes…we all live to explore and learn from our quests. 🙂 I like your thoughts. 🙂
July 14, 2010 at 8:53 am
Hey D! Hope you’re having an awesome fun week!
Thanks 🙂
July 13, 2010 at 11:10 pm
Enjoyed reading this. The images rubbed against each other and brought out some interesting meaning. I’ll have to check out the one shot sight. Happy to visit again.
July 14, 2010 at 8:55 am
Hi Yousei. Good to connect again 🙂 You’re welcome to participate at One Shot anytime! Thanks for stopping by and commenting. cheers
July 14, 2010 at 12:24 am
I found that the photograph and the poem worked so very well together…I particularly liked your final two lines…sometimes it’s best not to over-think the day.
July 14, 2010 at 8:57 am
Hey Charles. I’m still learning to not over think, or to at least cut down on that lol
Cheers
July 14, 2010 at 2:57 am
I love the way you take the picture and work the verse…a great offering for one shot day..cheers Pete
July 14, 2010 at 8:58 am
Was just making the rounds and checking out the One Shot work…. some great poetry posted this week!
July 14, 2010 at 3:46 am
To me, the description of the elements of the photograph are wonderful and lyrical…the lines flow so well. What was your approach?
Bravo!
Tracy H
July 14, 2010 at 9:01 am
Hi Tracy. I pass by that scene all the time, so it was an ongoing poem I was writing in my head until I took the photo.
Thanks!
July 14, 2010 at 7:39 am
Trees are always symbolic of life… even am found of using them… beautifully written…
July 14, 2010 at 9:02 am
Appreciate your visit, Jincy. Thank you!
July 14, 2010 at 9:16 am
Branching out, I just like the sense of ‘being’ not actually doing anything, questioning anything just standing there reaching towards the sun and being. It’s a good one – again!
July 14, 2010 at 9:32 am
Hi Lynda. Like the way you look at it. Just “being” in a pure sense—empty mind, at one with the sun. Makes me want to shut off my computer and go sit by the lake. cheers 🙂
July 15, 2010 at 5:23 am
This little hymn we used to sing in junior school was what I was trying to think of;-
‘Glad that I live am I
That the sky is blue
Glad for the country lanes
And the fall of dew
After the sun, the rain,
After the rain – the sun,
This is the way of life
Til the work be done.
All that we need to do
Be we low or high,
Is to see that we grow
Nearer the sky’
🙂
July 14, 2010 at 9:22 am
Lovely symbolism. I like giving trees a character, or rather bringing it out in them. We can learn from them.
July 14, 2010 at 9:38 am
Thanks. I agree about learning from nature, Linda. Just wish we all could make more of a concerted effort to stopping pollution, especially corporations.
July 14, 2010 at 12:15 pm
…Cloudless, minus any doubting… ah that sounds sooo good – have to learn to live life right now..and your poem is such a good painting of how it could be…Thank you so much!
Claudia
July 14, 2010 at 2:10 pm
Hi Claudia. For some reason your name link is not working. Anyhow, like your take on the poem. We have to remember to live in and enjoy the moment; not to let it pass us by unaware. Cheers!
July 14, 2010 at 2:20 pm
Strange – the links works for me.. If you wonna visit – I’m on splittergewitter.blogspot.com
Cheers – and nice to meet you! Claudia
July 14, 2010 at 2:52 pm
C, tried it again… 404 Error message on that link. No worries. Thanks for posting the link above. Appreciate it 🙂
July 14, 2010 at 12:40 pm
on my to do list after reading this:
STOP THINKING ABOUT IT
congrats on joining the One Shot Team
July 14, 2010 at 2:13 pm
LOL! Xactly… Enjoy the momentary impression and then go enjoy life, preferably outside! Thanks, Doni. I’m enjoying working with the the OS crew. They’re lots of fun.
July 14, 2010 at 1:33 pm
check out a post about poetry communities,
have fun exploring…
Cheers!
July 14, 2010 at 2:08 pm
Check that link out, folks! Cool info from, Jingle.
Just left you a message 🙂
Cheers!
July 14, 2010 at 1:35 pm
It’s lovely when growth is happening and you’re roots are deep and the sky is clear and blue. I really liked this poem. I love the rhythm of it, too!
July 14, 2010 at 1:48 pm
Enjoying reading your work, Talon. Appreciate you being a part of One Shot/One Stop! Thanks so much for sharing your talent with us.
July 14, 2010 at 1:37 pm
no doubts, no worries just living, growing and reaching what a tree of paradise!
July 14, 2010 at 1:53 pm
Hi D.S.! “No doubts, no worries just living…” you make it great. Thanks for stopping by today. Always a pleasure reading your work.
cheers
July 14, 2010 at 4:21 pm
Really like that “synaptic” choice of words; I like the sound of it and the metaphor. That is exactly what the image evokes. (or did the poem come first?)
July 14, 2010 at 5:15 pm
Hey Kat! Glad to see you on 1 Shot Wednesday! Image came first on this one, though I harbored vague notions of lines and about which general direction I wanted to go with the poem before taking the actual photo; kind of like an ongoing rough draft in my thoughts for a while before attempting it.
July 14, 2010 at 4:48 pm
I love the stubborn individuality of barren trees. They stand strong, just being. There is so much to learn from that. I wish I could I could learn it.
July 14, 2010 at 5:20 pm
Yeah, I’m a fan of individuality whether it be animal, vegetable, or mineral. lol Okay, that was silly. Anyway, enjoyed “Found Voice”
Reminded me a little of when Kerouac describes jazz…
http://pattiken-pattiken.blogspot.com/2010/07/found-voice.html
Thanks
July 14, 2010 at 7:38 pm
Interesting lyrical tone — a song in your heart on a summer day, lightness and clarity mingled with the natural world.
Lovely,
Joanny
July 15, 2010 at 7:51 am
Joanny, it’s a pleasure connecting with you through our respective poetry. Cheers. Hope you’ll continue to be a part of One Shot! 🙂
July 14, 2010 at 8:22 pm
What a nice simple thought to live without going over each day while still spreading out. But I think about that way of life and it works for some I know, but I think and analyze and without doing so I am bored and find myself feeling down. Great poem. 🙂
July 15, 2010 at 7:56 am
Hi Z! Know that feeling about feeling down and the boredom… I’m more like you, I go over each day, too many times to a degree I wish to curb. Much of my poetry becomes reminders not to do that, to not take everything so seriously, kind of like life notes to myself sometimes. Thanks for stopping by 🙂
July 21, 2010 at 7:57 am
I wont let myself be serious all the time either. I’m a firm believer that one should never let their inner child fade. Then theres the fact I am a full fledged thinker. A balance’ lol! I would hope. 🙂 Lol!
July 14, 2010 at 8:38 pm
Trees are great teachers, are they not? And most evocative . . . ” minus any doubting . . . not thinking over live each day . . . ” Just showing us how we might be. Fine work, Adam. Thank you! And thanks for the intro to One Shot Wednesday and One Stop Poetry.
Jamie
July 15, 2010 at 7:58 am
Jamie, I have to say that trees ARE great teachers—even better than some I had in grade school. lol Thanks for your interest in One Shot! Appreciate your work and comments. cheers!
July 14, 2010 at 8:49 pm
Perfect merging of visual and verbal. I loved both the photo and the poem. -Bill
July 15, 2010 at 7:53 am
“not thinking over life each day”
a great line
this is for people as well as barren trees
i really enjoyed the spoken version as well.
smiles,
July 15, 2010 at 8:02 am
Thanks, Rev Bill. Glad to learn more about your work. Enjoyed your poem and look forward to reading more from your blog. cheers!
July 15, 2010 at 11:20 am
simply fabulous= picture and words. 🙂
you truly are a magician
July 15, 2010 at 3:17 pm
Hi trisha! Hope you’re having a wonderful week 🙂
cheers
July 15, 2010 at 5:49 pm
I love the tree so stark against blue sky, the rhythm and music of the words and the many different images the words convey and the overall feeling of lasting deep rooted strength conveyed. Great.
July 15, 2010 at 6:19 pm
Twilark, thank you for visiting and commenting. Enjoyed the poem of yours I read for One Shot!
cheers
July 16, 2010 at 12:43 am
Beautifully expressive!
July 16, 2010 at 6:46 am
Rose, a wonderful surprise! Thank you 🙂 C ya later on Twitter!
July 18, 2010 at 6:34 pm
Oy vey! I’m going to have to step up my game, friend. Your work is good! 😛
I especially like this poem here. I like what you can see in this scene. There’s so much more, isn’t there ?:)
July 19, 2010 at 7:52 am
Thanks, Tony. I always feel like I have to step up my game, especially when working with Brian, Leslie, and Pete.
July 19, 2010 at 4:00 pm
Interesting how such a seemingly static being can have such meaningful motion.
July 22, 2010 at 12:35 pm
That’s a nice way of putting that. Thanks 🙂
September 16, 2010 at 2:24 pm
“Everybody who’s anybody longs to be a tree”…
This is one of my favorite quotes by Poet Laureate, Rita Dove. These words are posted above my studio desk…I see them every day as I begin to paint. They always inspire 🙂 As did your words for Branching Out. I’m late to this thread, but enriched by the discovery.
~Shell
September 16, 2010 at 4:43 pm
Hi Shell. It always makes me so happy to learn that my painter and photographer friends also find inspiration in poetry.
Your comment made my day 🙂