Your thinking The Crimson Birch or the Red Birch right. I checked to make sure they didn't fit the bill. The red is intentional. Read it and think about it. It'll don on you I promise.
haaa--whatta dope; see what happens when you (i.e., I) just respond all knee-jerk and whatnot? I've been spending a lot of time lately in these eastern woods; I sometimes forget there's a wider world out there.
Still not getting it though. Birds (like cardinals--such winter birds too) seems much too literal. Is your title a clue? If not, maybe it should be.
Nope that's pretty much it. Just thought that was a neat image worth haikuing. Just the image of seeing a birch in winter that appears to be filled with pretty red leaves and then realizing they're a large flock of cardinals as they fly off. The image seems to lend itself to some symbolism the reader can make their own. I hope your not disappointed.
Does this have to be precicely accurate or correct in matter, i mean about the red/yellow leaves? I wouldn't know the difference. See, you guys are influencing my vote thought now. I might have commented spontaneously but now I keep wondering whether the matter is correct. All the same... its good. Poetic imagery of bright red leaves then it is!
amanda_dcosta: there are birches with red leaves, apparently--I was seeing it through my own geographical filter (where birches with red leaves would be unusual). Does it matter that it's precise, correct? That's for you to decide. For me? Depends on context and purpose--I don't mind poetic license for point or purpose or even effect, but if I read something as literal (I do, too often), then I like it to be pretty accurate. OTOH, I've "leafed" trees in birds, so who am I to judge?
Just the image of seeing a birch in winter that appears to be filled with pretty red leaves and then realizing they're a large flock of cardinals as they fly off.
18 comments
Pedantic, sure. ;-D
How 'bout a nice boxelder? No one ever writes about boxelders (except maybe Stephen Malkmus).
Still not getting it though. Birds (like cardinals--such winter birds too) seems much too literal. Is your title a clue? If not, maybe it should be.
That's usually a sign of a great poem.
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