Through the Eyes of Babes

The large oak falls
and no one there
to yell timber
when we came upon it
the tree still throbbed with life
even as it lay
limbs and elbows shattered
its anchor of earth abandoned
to an unabiding wind
we could see the struggle
for final breath
still warm a moment
laden with twisted flesh
beckoned to meadows
the distant woods
its fate set
in unshaken eyes of wisdom
the morning God in pantomime
decided to foster violets
and give sudden courage
to the tempest
what should I tell my grandsons
four year olds
prancing knee deep in wet grass
jumping and screaming
no concerns outside
their tiny worlds
when they ask
pop why did the tree fall
I don't have the heart
to tell them it was
an act of God

^

Biography

David Lee Holman, 45, a native of Stockton, California, began writing poetry several years ago during a lengthy recovery from a work related accident. A Journeyman Millman by trade, he states, "My creativity, prior to the accident, was realized through the handcrafting of wood; many creations brought to life by using techniques a hundred or more years old. In the post-accident, pre-reconstruction of life period, the creative energy begged for an outlet. Having loved the written word since my teens, I found that needed release in poetry. From then to date, I have written hundreds of poems, and probably have read as many, or more, books on the craft of this artform, and still I am a novice in the field. After much instruction and many years I find my reasons for writing have not changed much. I write because I love language and poetry and the messages it can send." His poems have been published in literaries electronically and in hard copy including, The Pittsburgh Quarterly, Recursive Angel, Poetry Now, Maelstrom, Tule Review, and as a featured poet in Writer's Quill. Recently, he was the recipient of the Janice Farrell Poetry Prize in the Soul-Making Literary Competition in San Francisco, CA.