Category: Poem

THE BIRCH TREE KNOWS

Inspired by a brisk winter walk in the Cleveland, Ohio area.

LYRICS

The birch tree braves the winter’s icy grip,
Its branches bare, white stark against the sky.
It does not mourn the loss of leaves or gold, 
But waits with patience for the spring to nigh.
The birch tree knows the seasons wax and wane,
Each carries purpose, beauty, grace, and pace.
It does not fear the frost, the ice, the rain,
But greets each one with elegance and grace.
My soul, like birch, endures and perseveres,
To rise from earth to heaven’s radiant light.
It stands unbowed, unbroken by the cold,
But shines with faith and courage through the night.
From birch I learn to face life’s change and strife,
To trust in self, let faith and courage guide.

MUSIC AND LYRICS FOR Widow’s Lament of the Empress-Queen Maria Theresa

[The lyrics below were previously written as a sonnet by D.S.Yarab, inspired by the correspondence and writings of Maria Theresa written upon the loss of her husband, Emperor Francis I, in 1765, when she was 48 years old. They were pulled into service as lyrics and set to music created through the use of artfully crafted prompts, trial and error, and poor judgment, using AI at Udio.com. As always, neither lyricists nor composers are at risk of displacement by my efforts or the advancements of AI.]

Lyrics of Widow’s Lament Of Maria Theresa

The sun, once bright, now veiled in somber black, 
The stars, extinguished, forsake their shining light,
I wander through this never-ending night,
In search of solace that I forever lack.

Within, a void remains since your farewell, 
No more your smile, your voice that warmed my core,
No longer does your love and warmth restore,
I’m left yearning, my being an empty shell.

Impatience grows, my heart craves the bier,
A longing to escape this realm of woe,
To find release, to rest forevermore, 
And bid farewell to all I hold below.
 
I find no solace but in toil and strain,
And close my soul so pain no longer reigns.

AUDIO FILE OF WIDOW’S LAMENT

Behold the Blessed Linden

Behold the blessed linden in the spring,
Its fragrant flowers and its verdant leaves,
A shelter and a solace for the wing,
A honey source for busy bees, it gives.

Behold the blessed linden in the summer,
Its canopy a refuge from the heat,
A place of rest and peace for the newcomer,
A spot of joy and beauty on the street.

Behold the blessed linden in the fall,
Its golden hues a signal of the change,
A witness of the seasons and their call,
A reminder of the cycle that’s not strange.

Behold the blessed linden in the winter,
Its branches bare but still a graceful sight,
A promise of the life that will re-enter,
A symbol of the hope that’s ever bright.

Be Not An Oak

Be not the oak that faces stormy gusts, Which breaks beneath the fury of the wind. Instead, be willow, bending as it must, A haven for the wearied kin, you’ll find.

Be not a rock that dams the rivers’ flow, That brings about the havoc of the flood. Yet be a pebble, letting waters go, Creating paths where once tall barriers stood.

Be not a star that flares with blinding light, A spectacle to all who dare to gaze. Instead, a moon that guides through darkest night, A soothing, gentle source of graceful rays.

Do not be oak, or rock, or star that sears, But willow, pebble, moon that endears.

The Birch Tree

The birch tree braves the winter’s icy grip, Its branches bare, white stark against the sky. It does not mourn the loss of leaves or gold, But waits with patience for the spring to nigh.

The birch tree knows the seasons wax and wane, Each carries purpose, beauty, grace, and pace. It does not fear the frost, the ice, the rain, But greets each one with elegance and grace.

My soul, like birch, endures and perseveres, To rise from earth to heaven’s radiant light. It stands unbowed, unbroken by the cold, But shines with faith and courage through the night.

From birch I learn to face life’s change and strife, To trust in self, let faith and courage guide.