Under The Wild Chestnut Tree

Author: jim marshal
Word Count: 243
previous browse writing next

Under The Wild Chestnut Tree

The Chestnut Tree

Under The Wild Chestnut Tree belongs to the following groups:

Everyday Life, Light In The Darkness and The Healing Journey

Do you remember when it was just you and me
sitting under the wild chestnut tree?

Or perhaps you recall the time your friend phoned
saying your son had just begun methadone.

Do you remember the fun that we shared
pretending that monsters were under the bed?

Or maybe you’ll think of the time that you lost
staying in a job when you slept with the boss.

Do you remember the plans that we cooked
under the blankets and camping in books?

Or do you remark the knot in your chest,
made from the stuff that that living’s repressed?

Do you remember the games that we played,
the thousand invisible friends that we made?

Or is there an idol you’ve made from your pain
that shines in the light and you say “It’s just rain.”

Do you remember when light filled your suit
and all that was here was all that was true?

Or are you adorned a discoteque gown
that will get you through nicely this mechanical town?

Do you remember when gold filled your cells
and you filled in your time finding new shells?

Or are you afraid of what lies beneath,
so much so that you’ve cut off your feet?

Do you remember that one thing you knew,
the only thing holy enough to pursue?

If you do, there is hope, and power for free
waiting for you, under the wild chestnut tree.

DeviousLili

Perfect. A great reminder that I think we all need occasionally. I would live as my son lives were he not already Becoming due to me. :)

I can wait another 8 to 10 years. (laugh)
jim marshal replied

haha yeah. Its hard to write a poem like this without making it sound nostalgic and indulgent, don’t know how it comes across but I tried lol. Thanks for the kudos.
Lisa Jewell

One of the most stunning pieces I’ve read…..I’m off in search of the Chestnut Tree….
jim marshal replied

haha, well it may be closer than you think…..
ArcadiaTempest

You are so the real deal….I adore how you put this together. Emotional punches…brilliant!
jim marshal replied

What an awesome comment! Thank you, I bask….
natapee

I love this. Its so easy to become disillusioned, bitter and lost, but its just as easy to tap back into that part of ourselves that was full of hope, dreams and playfulness. That we all find out Chesnut Trees indeed. Very wise words.
jim marshal replied

Yeah, the only way we seem to access this part of ourselves is by sentimentalizing childhood and “Disneylanding” everything, that is make it plastic. But as far as I have experienced, innocent perception is nothing of the sort, it simply means looking at the world with no expectations, and children just happen to be expert at that.

Thanks again Nataly.
x
Sally Omar

Oh, yes, this is beautiful….sometimes I wish I could go back to the Weeping Willow Tree
of my childhood….your writing just makes me breathless…it is so profound…so deep and
often makes me look into myself…xoxoxoxoxoxo
jim marshal

ah, that makes me feel good, thank you so much Sally.
Anne van Alkemade

I guess we all have our ‘tree’. Mine was a loquat! sigh.
jim marshal replied

Loquats are cool!
mimi yoon

congratulations, jim…. now, this is the most amazing writing i’ve read….
jim marshal replied

ah dear Mimi….
Tania Rose

yeah i remember…
jim marshal replied

glad!
oneperfectkiss

This is beautiful Jim and made me ask that question….. and also what is really important in life….i’ve gained more insights in the last year of my life than i have in my entire life….adjusting to it is…well, wonderful and very different but beautiful too and i see what is important and what is not and that in itself is a revelation… read this on a very special day and a special time in spiritual growth….a quantum leap. thank you. xxxx
jim marshal replied

Excellent! So glad this is happening for you. Thanks for the read!
Bob Williams

Works like this always walk the line of self-indulgence. I have felt the same about my own work. Probably best left to the consciencious reader to decide for themselves. Good work.
jim marshal replied

Yes this is true. Not that I care if the truth be known if it sounds indulgent, but there is certainly an art to it. Thanks a million for your thoughts Bob.
Cassey

This is so good. I love what you have to say, how you say it, and even that it rhymed without losing meaning or feeling forced. Well done.
Cassey

p.s.-the film was so lovely.
jim marshal replied

I am SO glad someone watched the film! Thanks CJK.
Yool

EXCELLENT WRITING AND LOVED THE MOVIE :))
jim marshal replied

Cool, ta. The movie’s cool.
Monica Engeler

I remember those. Great write.
jim marshal replied

Good! Thanks for the visit.
bill bell

Love your poetry dude
jim marshal replied

Thanks mate.
autumnwind

It’s so good to read and believe there is hope. What a beautiful write. Love, Shar
jim marshal replied

Yes, there is hope between the doomlines. Thank you.
navybrat

stunning!!
jim marshal replied

thank you NB.
oOoJCoOo

this is really effective ! Amazing Work
jim marshal replied

cheers, thank you so much
anaisnais

A lovely write to evoke and excite the muse….well done….let go and let live!
jim marshal replied

Thank you Anais.
pablohon3y

I don’t normally comment on things much but this was an amazing thought evoking piece, I just spent a good few minutes under an old apple tree, I haven’t been there for over 20 years. I could comment about this all day.
jim marshal replied

Hey nice to meet you, and thanks for stopping to read, and to comment. Hope the apple tree is a fruitful place for your soul. Thanks, hope to see you again on here!
PJ Ryan

beautifully melodic and full of heart warming wonder
jim marshal replied

hey there! thanks for the visit and the lovey comment.
wigs

wow the dark and the light combined…. beatutiful work
jim marshal replied

yeah, tried to anyway…. thanks for your praise… Jim.
pablohon3y

It was also nice to meet you, no worries on the comment the pleasure was all mine.
colorblind

whoa nice piece to have read this morning
thank you for this mate
very nice indeed
jim marshal replied

Thank you cb, so nice to hear from you….
coopphoto

very cool poem, thanks for sharing, Hey remember that time we ate a chestnut….
jim marshal replied

yes i remember… thanks for your comment!
Kathleen Whitty

I like this a lot, well done
jim marshal replied

Great! Thanks Kathleen…
Helen Burke

Yes, i know. It doesn’t go away.
jim marshal replied

we always have our tree… thanks HB
Mika

Woah thats an awesome piece!
Love it loads!
jim marshal replied

Hey Mika, pleased you liked this one…. welcome here anytime.
ivana slibar

very very nice poem
jim marshal replied

Thanks Ivana…
Albert Sellaman
jim marshal replied

Wow thanks. I have no idea what the White Dove Award is, but I am honoured nonetheless…. cheers – Jim.
Steph Harle

I think your poem is weird and I dislike it intensely.Write some good stuff because I only enjoy good writing. In summation, this is not good writing- this is awful writing.
jim marshal replied

Thanks for your comment, Steph. To let you in on a little secret, as a poem, this is not one of my favorites, not by a long shot. In fact, the Dr. Seuss style rhyme is something I kinda cringe at, in a way. I am always surprised that the poems that seem the most popular to these communities are not the ones that I am personally most proud of.

What I am proud of here is not so much the poem but the message. We get encrusted with stuff that distorts the true Radiance of Being, and what’s worse is we actually think it somehow gives us depth and character even as it totally distorts and warps Essence. True consciousness is innocent, free of expectation and full of wonder and Possibility.

Thanks again for your honest comment. And I would hope you would read some of my other writing before you decide what kind of writer I am.

Jim.
Steph Harle

sorry if that offends you i guess its just not my type of writing.sorry again if that upsets you.
Brenti

I’m a poetry snob, but I believe you are a talented and new-age which is more than good enough for me.
jim marshal replied

thank you, a very encouraging and affirming comment.
Jim.
Hollee McNamara

An amazing and powerful piece of writing, i love it.
jim marshal replied

Thanks Hollee, means a lot.
JenniferB

I’ve always appreciated and been affected/effected??? by your work, you’re an extremely gifted writer, a natural and your words have the ability to both move and change people. Congrats on the Feature too! :-)
jim marshal replied

That is about the best kudos I could receive… means so much… x
JayTeeAre

Maybe this is a little late? I’m sure you’re not that worried, really. Anyway, this is a good poem with an awesome message. Good work, dude.
jim marshal replied 25 days ago

Thanks Jay :)
misfit1965

I like this quite a lot, and I feel I can learn from your style. I tend to write long. Thanks.
jim marshal replied 25 days ago

Thanks misfit :)
redeemed

Great writing! Your style really captivates the readers, and draws them into a place within themselves that they perhaps have forgotten, or may have buried. It confronts the things that need to be confronted, a way to free the soul. Well done.
jim marshal replied 25 days ago

Thanks, that was my intention good to know I hit the mark :)
Jason Clinton

Really amazing piece of work. Was a really cultivating one in my opinion, good job.
jim marshal replied 25 days ago

Thanks Jason.
JaneSolomon

Can’t let my wild chestnut tree wander too far away…..xxx
jim marshal replied 25 days ago

Nah, glad you came back to it :)
Charma Chircop 25 days ago

How id love to go under this Wild Chestnut tree.. it seems like a magical tree,an escape from all which lies beneath..i can relate to this poem..excellent picture you’ve painted in verses-CHARMA
jim marshal replied 25 days ago

Thanks Charma, glad you relate to it. :)
hsien-ku 24 days ago

trying to grow back new feet, light up new cells like lazurus. when i have feet, I can make new shoes and walk till I find the taxi i left that damned chestnut tree in. we forget that we have forgotten – otherwise we’d be crippled by grief. a wonderful poem jim – magical and thought-provoking. makes the dark seem less dark somehow. x