Taking a moment for poetry: Taengja Tree

As you may have noticed, it has been a while since I’ve posted a new piece on this site. Don’t worry, I haven’t stopped writing. In fact, I’ve been writing a lot. I’ve just been working within other genres and haven’t felt the pieces quite matched the theme of this site. Today, however, I thought I would share a bit with you.

Part of what I have been doing is venturing back to my roots. When I first began writing, it was as an angst-ridden teen, scribbling poetry and song lyrics in the many journals I kept hidden under my bed. Though I’ve long since lost the angst, I’ve always felt a pull back towards this form of expression. I’m admittedly a bit rusty, but here is a glimpse for you of a poem I’ve been playing with for a while. It’s current title is simply, “Taengja Tree”. 

 

Floating in the scent of the Taengja tree,

My heavy eyes close softly,

Breathing in, never out, 

The beauty slowly envelops me.

As petals fall like snowflakes, sighing, 

They pass the wind-worn trees.

Bark, aged and cracked,

Tells stories of winter’s past.

For what lies ahead,

Looming cold and unknown,

A glint in the path, 

By moonlight’s faint glow,

My eyes, aching to see 

“It’s not over” spelled out in broken glass.

Fall recedes as winter brings

These rattling winds, forgotten dreams, 

Shivering hands, hopes buried in snow,

Breathe in, never out,

Eyes closed. 

For the Taengja wished it so.