KNOT • by Daniel Ausema

Trees remember fallen branches long
after sun and soil have given all
to help the trees recover from their fall,
though broken wood denies its loss in song:

‘sap the twig will fill / wag the world how it will
leaves must be green in spring.’

The trees sprout leaves that spread to hide the scar,
which darkens slowly through the cycling years.
The sap — once gathered round the gash like tears –
dries up. The whispering leaves declare they are

the truth, the proof of happiness and love.
The wound denies the lie of leaves above.

[*lines 5 and 6 are from Herman Melville’s poem “Malvern Hill”]

Daniel Ausema has a background in experiential education and journalism and is now a stay-at-home dad.  His fiction and poetry have appeared in dozens of publications, including Every Day Fiction, Nemonymous, MindFlights and Raven Electrick.  He lives in Colorado.

Posted on February 26, 2009 in Nature, Poems
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8 Responses to “KNOT • by Daniel Ausema”


  1. Roberta SchulbergGoro Says:
    February 26th, 2009 at 7:17 am

    Peculiar tendentiousness. I never knew leaves claimed proof of happiness, though distinctly green.

  2. sjhigbee Says:
    February 26th, 2009 at 11:49 am

    I very much like the sentiments expressed in the last stanza – particularly the final couplet. Not sure about quoting from someone else’s poem, though…

  3. Oonah V Joslin Says:
    February 26th, 2009 at 3:31 pm

    Well as you see, Daniel credited the poet whose poem he admired so much, as well as putting the lines in quotation marks – so that’s fine and I hope people will google Herman Melville too. :)

  4. dj barber Says:
    February 26th, 2009 at 6:03 pm

    Liked the last para

    –dj

  5. Juan Says:
    February 26th, 2009 at 6:39 pm

    I enjoy the voice, rhyme and rhythm. Though the overall message is solid and a pleasure to read aloud, I agree with others on those last lines, they really shine.

  6. Rumjhum Says:
    February 26th, 2009 at 9:07 pm

    I loved this poem. It shines!

  7. Daniel Ausema Says:
    February 26th, 2009 at 10:32 pm

    Thanks–glad you enjoyed it!

    As to quoting another poem…I don’t do it lightly, but I also don’t see a problem including such a short bit (probably attributed). The poem was meant in part as a comment on/reaction to those lines…but it didn’t quite seem fair to assume people would know them if they weren’t quoted directly :)

  8. Sarah Ashwood Says:
    March 2nd, 2009 at 7:19 am

    Beautiful as always, Daus. Love how you intertwined the quote there in the middle.

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