deepundergroundpoetry.com
The Druid’s Tree
( Rowan )
This Rowan tree in bloom I rest beneath,
Whose berries filled her boughs in ruby red.
That ever spread its legend ‘cross the heath,
To giving pause the rising of the dead.
Protector from the devil’s evil sway,
This Rowan tree in bloom I rest beneath.
Whose leaves are from a living bird of prey,
And ne’er a welcome sight to witch’s meet.
I lean against the sav’ry of its wreath,
In dappled shade that quivers in its arms.
This Rowan tree in bloom I rest beneath,
Sprigs of it in my hair keep me from harm.
Which also includes charms against my will;
I keep a bower on my mantle piece.
What turns to honeyed wine, not bitter swill?
This Rowan tree in bloom I rest beneath.
This Rowan tree in bloom I rest beneath,
Whose berries filled her boughs in ruby red.
That ever spread its legend ‘cross the heath,
To giving pause the rising of the dead.
Protector from the devil’s evil sway,
This Rowan tree in bloom I rest beneath.
Whose leaves are from a living bird of prey,
And ne’er a welcome sight to witch’s meet.
I lean against the sav’ry of its wreath,
In dappled shade that quivers in its arms.
This Rowan tree in bloom I rest beneath,
Sprigs of it in my hair keep me from harm.
Which also includes charms against my will;
I keep a bower on my mantle piece.
What turns to honeyed wine, not bitter swill?
This Rowan tree in bloom I rest beneath.
Published 21st Oct 2019
| Edited 5th Nov 2019
Author's Note
For crimsin’s “the secret knowledge of trees”.
All writing remains the property of the author. Don't use it for any purpose without their permission.
likes 13
reading list entries 3
comments 16
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21st Oct 2019 8:57am
This is a fantastic poetic expression. There is a lot hidden in trees, most people seem to overlook that fact. Best of luck in the comp, my friend.
21st Oct 2019 9:09am
With an immense thanks to you, sweet friend! This is a brand new write just published and entered - the ink is still wet... and it’s as if you stepped atop a parapet to herald its arrival... it feels glorious!
21st Oct 2019 6:50pm
Knowing the symbolic meaning of the planting of a rowan tree was definitely useful in my understanding the depths of this write. Beautifully expressed in form, verbiage and syllabic harmony. Your craft is refined to elegance. 💖
21st Oct 2019 7:19pm
Thank you very much indeed, my friend, for such honors coming from one of this site’s top notch readers. I’m always humble while learning a bit more each time from your insightfulness.
21st Oct 2019 10:37pm
delicious topic delightfully rendered in iambic pentameter, quatrains, and utilising the rep of L1 in all 3 following verses, as L's2/3/4 respectively.
one tiny error, jade who's=whose
i can see you wearing that bright berried crown :) rowans are one of my favourite trees and the middle name of my middle child, named after the tree not the comedian :)
one tiny error, jade who's=whose
i can see you wearing that bright berried crown :) rowans are one of my favourite trees and the middle name of my middle child, named after the tree not the comedian :)
Aah Jan, thank you, I’m so glad you stopped in for a read, and such encouraging words.
I loved writing this piece. In fact, I’ve written a number of tree pieces just since the 4 years I’ve been on this site. I wasn’t sure something worthwhile would come to me this time for Brenda’s comp. when that happens I simply relax and let the idea stew with the muse (sounds like a book title). It usually works.
Now as for the repeating line (a refrain), that indicates a Quatern, a form I’ve always found to be very pleasing.
I appreciare your train-spotting re: “whose”. My lifelong dyslexia does not usually affect me most times when it involves my writing (because it comes from my mind, not someone else’s), but in this case, it did. As soon as you confirmed it’s “whose”, I exclaimed aloud “Of course!”. You’d have thought I’d had a eureka moment.
But for now the edit will have to wait till the results of the comp have been officially posted. Meantime, the entries are locked.
Ooo, and I love that one of your children has “Rowan” in their name!
With my regards,
ever
Jade🐾
11/05/19 Update: The results are in, the entry is released, so I’ve made the edit and now it’s right.👍
I loved writing this piece. In fact, I’ve written a number of tree pieces just since the 4 years I’ve been on this site. I wasn’t sure something worthwhile would come to me this time for Brenda’s comp. when that happens I simply relax and let the idea stew with the muse (sounds like a book title). It usually works.
Now as for the repeating line (a refrain), that indicates a Quatern, a form I’ve always found to be very pleasing.
I appreciare your train-spotting re: “whose”. My lifelong dyslexia does not usually affect me most times when it involves my writing (because it comes from my mind, not someone else’s), but in this case, it did. As soon as you confirmed it’s “whose”, I exclaimed aloud “Of course!”. You’d have thought I’d had a eureka moment.
But for now the edit will have to wait till the results of the comp have been officially posted. Meantime, the entries are locked.
Ooo, and I love that one of your children has “Rowan” in their name!
With my regards,
ever
Jade🐾
11/05/19 Update: The results are in, the entry is released, so I’ve made the edit and now it’s right.👍
22nd Oct 2019 2:27am
What a wonderful poem... It reminds me of the great British Romantics Byron, Keats, Shelley and their worship of Nature.
Brava!
tomcat
Brava!
tomcat
23rd Oct 2019 4:22pm
*bows low*
I thank our Sonnet Master for such praise (and the honorable comparisons), as well as the honor of place on your RL.
your Tiger queen🐾
I thank our Sonnet Master for such praise (and the honorable comparisons), as well as the honor of place on your RL.
your Tiger queen🐾
22nd Oct 2019 1:30pm
Did you know the druids would graft mistletoe into a tree that had been lightning struck and grow the plant for special rituals?
Such a poetic people...
Love
J
Such a poetic people...
Love
J
23rd Oct 2019 4:34pm
Thank you, my friend, for sharing in an open comment so that all passing through might learn of this fact.
It’s reminded me of how, if struck by lightning, a Rowen with a cleaved truck down the middle could become host to a new Rowen growing from where birds from the host tree had dropped seeds.
Thank you for coming by for a read and the recommend.
It’s reminded me of how, if struck by lightning, a Rowen with a cleaved truck down the middle could become host to a new Rowen growing from where birds from the host tree had dropped seeds.
Thank you for coming by for a read and the recommend.
23rd Oct 2019 5:27am
Dear JP,
I just really like this piece. I love stories about the Druids and it was fun to read. Best of luck in the comp! Awesome write. H🌷
I just really like this piece. I love stories about the Druids and it was fun to read. Best of luck in the comp! Awesome write. H🌷
My dear sister H,
How lovely your read, and I thank you for sharing the pleasure of your thoughts & wishes! I hope this piece continues to inspire you,
🌱
How lovely your read, and I thank you for sharing the pleasure of your thoughts & wishes! I hope this piece continues to inspire you,
🌱
Anonymous
- Edited 23rd Oct 2019 6:43pm
23rd Oct 2019 6:40pm
Hello
Of all the trees in Druidic treelore, the Rowan was seen as the most mysterious of them all. Still today, it is one of the nine sacred woods burnt at Beltane to honour Brigid, and refers in the Druidic calendar to the month of February. It is also used as part of the Ogham as a symbol of rebirth.
In early folk magic it was hung on barn doors to keep away evil spirits and as a symbol of re-birth in the same way that owls were nailed to barn doors and their blood used to draw protection sigils as they were omens of death.
This tree was inspiration for Rowan, daughter of May in the film The Wicker Man as a metaphor for the death & re-birth Sgt. Howie would experience when they sacrificed him.
For more information on how Druids (or in this case, a Druidess) still works with the tree today, you may find this article of interest to you: https://www.druidry.org/library/trees/tree-lore-rowan
-M
Of all the trees in Druidic treelore, the Rowan was seen as the most mysterious of them all. Still today, it is one of the nine sacred woods burnt at Beltane to honour Brigid, and refers in the Druidic calendar to the month of February. It is also used as part of the Ogham as a symbol of rebirth.
In early folk magic it was hung on barn doors to keep away evil spirits and as a symbol of re-birth in the same way that owls were nailed to barn doors and their blood used to draw protection sigils as they were omens of death.
This tree was inspiration for Rowan, daughter of May in the film The Wicker Man as a metaphor for the death & re-birth Sgt. Howie would experience when they sacrificed him.
For more information on how Druids (or in this case, a Druidess) still works with the tree today, you may find this article of interest to you: https://www.druidry.org/library/trees/tree-lore-rowan
-M
23rd Oct 2019 8:15pm
Thank you very much, Missy, for the wonderful comment. I shall indeed check out the link.🌱
1st Nov 2019 3:49am
I love tree poems, this was really pretty with nice rhythm and significance, congrats :)
1st Nov 2019 4:59am
Thank you, how dear of you to share your thoughts with me. For you see, I too adore tree poems... at least 3 more are on my DU gallery: “The Tree Sage”, “The Learning Tree”, and “The Esperanto of Trees”. I’m always honored by your support.
