HEADING FOR THE CHOP

Heading for the Chop

Maureen Clifford ©  The Scribbly Bark Poet

It appears that sadly the time is coming when this beauty will be saying her goodbyes and it is with regret I have to say.  She is an old girl, grown spindly and leggy, who has a hissy fit every time the wind blows a bit harder than normal, and throws her branches down willy- nilly.  I am in fear for my neighbours chooks, whose grandiose villa rests beneath her shade.

I've tried taming this girl, had her pruned a few times at great cost, but she sprouts away again in rampant fury, and comes back taller and crankier than before.  I can see her ending her days mulched and scattered to feed her mates - those she outgrew and then selfishly robbed of light and nutriments. But she has had a kind side.  Her lacy leaves grow in abundance, the sheer weight of her greenery adding to the burden of her brittle boughs. She is resplendent in summer in her rich robes of green and purple.  She is truly a regal queen this old Jacaranda tree. When winter comes and she sheds her green garb, they supply a thick layer of mulch to the more tender and delicate plants growing in the understory where they have been protected from harsh rain and hail and hot sun by her leaves.

There were many days when I also took advantage of her shade.  Hours spent lazing, reading a book beneath her purple cape, but she took umbrage at my slothfulness and hurled a wooden spear in my direction.  I can no longer trust her to behave.

I wonder if she suspects that this winter will likely be the winter of her discontent.

LETS  PLANT  A  JACARANDA   
  Maureen Clifford  ©  The Scribbly Bark Poet

Life tends to go full circle, and I ‘m back here once again

after drifting forty years from town to town.

Driving past my old home, the one that we once shared

my Jacaranda I see wears her purple gown.

The purple blossom softly drifts across the lawn and walls

and creates a carpet shaded blue and green.

When  planted  as a sapling it was slender frail and small,

but now she’s beautiful, a regal Queen.

They say that life will always go full circle given time.

I lived here once with love and family.

But now that moments gone, kids have grown and loves moved on.

Feels like time to plant a Jacaranda tree.

Though I may not live long enough to sit beneath its shade

watching as purple blossoms softly fall.

Still my memories return across bridges now long burned

and forty years seems like no time at all.

So I’ll plant a Jacaranda tree tomorrow

Plant it gently, with my hopes and secret vows.

For memories are recalled as Jacaranda blossoms fall

‘neath the green and lacy canopy of boughs.