The language of oaks is oblique,
while acorns do clearly speak,
in whispers of losing their grip,
and of hopes in surviving the trip,
from young nut to sturdy wood,
but more likely the squirrels will eat them.
Kurt Kirchmeier lives and writes in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. His poetry has appeared, or is forthcoming, in Aberrant Dreams, Abyss & Apex, Illumen, and Star*Line.
Posted on January 25, 2009 in Poems
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7 Responses to “ACORNS • by Kurt Kirchmeier”
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January 25th, 2009 at 7:22 am
If you drop three commas and add a period and a capital, the poem is quite good. Nice comparison of wise ancient oaks to little acorns. An added note: That acorns lose their grip is no whispered secret. Except for that, I like this poem more as I re-read it.
January 25th, 2009 at 7:38 am
I like the thought of acorns whispering amongst themselves. Maybe that’s what you hear when you think it’s the wind rustling in the leaves.
January 25th, 2009 at 9:00 am
I like the squirrels. Actually I’m told squirrels may be responsible for trees growing as they often forget where they hide their nuts…
January 25th, 2009 at 11:19 am
I liked that.
Best the squirrels eat the nuts than the trees eat the squirrels, I suppose.
–dj
January 25th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
I was thinking, “Ditto Roberta’s Comments” But suddenly….the word choices, the obsessive commas, the simple rhymes, the disjointed rhythms, and it blossomed for me into a poem about madness. The young paranoid schizophrenic wondering if he’ll be able to get through life at all. An oak grows all which-a-ways. Huge 5 from me.
January 25th, 2009 at 7:52 pm
[...] – My quirky little poem “Acorns” is now live at Every Day Poets. Check it out if you have a spare minute. Mayhaps it’ll [...]
January 26th, 2009 at 2:49 pm
The speaker of the poem isn’t paranoid, he’s a Polonius.
It’s a cautionary tale to young nuts to expect the worst, although squirrels are innocent enough in the squirrel world.