The owl in the tree



THE OWL IN THE TREE

In a valley of green stands an old oak tree
Surrounded by flowers of all kinds and colors
Where the grass is knee high
And a stream trickles nearby
The owl in the tree keeps watch over

The sun starts to set
The sky cloudy and grey
Ducks glide in formation
Flying high in migration
The owl in the tree keeps watch over

The tree has no leaves it is barren with age
Its bark torn dry and brittle
But it stands resolute
Its spirit strong from branch to root
The owl in the tree keeps watch over

At the base of the tree stands a large carved rock
And nearby a lonely wooden cross
In tribute to the young soul that was taken
And for the loved ones now forsaken
The owl in the tree keeps watch over

About this poem

I came upon a memorial while on a hike in an open space near where I live in Colorado. Jessica Ridgeway, a 10 year old girl had been murdered by a 17 year old male and her dismembered body was found in the field of the park. I wrote the poem the next morning. It is written truthfully from start to finish.

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Written on January 17, 2015

Submitted by lisacampbell29 on February 22, 2022

Modified on April 28, 2023

45 sec read
195

Quick analysis:

Scheme a axbbC xxddC xxeeC xxddC
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 718
Words 151
Stanzas 5
Stanza Lengths 1, 5, 5, 5, 5

Lisa Campbell

I am 56 years old. I love to write poems, short stories and lyrics. more…

All Lisa Campbell poems | Lisa Campbell Books

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Discuss the poem The owl in the tree with the community...

3 Comments
  • Symmetry58
    Wow! This was a great read. I mean talk about visuals and theme. If you ever stop writing I'll file charges. ;-)
    LikeReply2 years ago
    • lisacampbell29
      Thank you so very much! You are very kind and funny. Lisa
      LikeReply2 years ago
  • kenya_s
    This was really good, wow.
    LikeReply 12 years ago
  • Dougla$Irishman
    This is indeed a private poem, a tribute to a young life taken before their time.
    Sadness is a big part of our life, who can deal with it ?
    Time is the great healer, but never the eraser !
    Thankyou for this very poignant poem, a time of reflection and
    a time of remembrance.. 
    LikeReply 12 years ago

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"The owl in the tree" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 29 Mar. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/120717/the-owl-in-the-tree>.

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