The tree of all life divides
The limbs and branches bifurcate,
Yearning growth shall not subside
The will of life will not abate
The opening stanza introduces the central metaphor of the poem: the tree of life. This tree symbolizes the entirety of existence, with its branches and limbs representing the diverse paths and lives that emerge from it. The stanza speaks to the relentless and unstoppable force of life, which continually pushes forward and grows, illustrating the inherent drive for survival and growth that permeates all living things.
With men and leaves the same
Our family lines divide
Through this freely flowing vein
Life’s hope, the young derive
This stanza draws a parallel between the lives of humans and the leaves of the tree. Just as leaves are sustained by the tree, human families and generations are nourished by the continuous flow of life through time. The stanza highlights the connection between generations, suggesting that life’s hope and vitality are passed down to the young through this ever-flowing lineage.
The branch from which you grow
Will tell you who is kin,
And all those we truly know,
Are those we call our friends
The stanza focuses on the concept of kinship, suggesting that the branch from which one grows determines familial connections. It emphasizes that true understanding and connection come from those we consider friends, indicating that beyond blood relations, the bonds of friendship and shared experience define who we truly know.
This simple truth of bloodline fire,
No greater gift is known,
Than knowing why our hearts aspire,
To forever cherish our own.
This stanza contemplates the importance of understanding one’s heritage and the connections that bind families together. It presents the knowledge of one’s lineage and the love for family as the greatest gift, one that drives the human heart to cherish and aspire toward the continuation of these familial bonds.
Like leaves we live and fall,
On branches we all abound
The graves that catch us all,
Are scattered on the ground
Here, the poem reflects on the inevitability of death, comparing human lives to leaves that live, flourish, and eventually fall to the ground. The graves scattered on the ground symbolize the final resting places of those who have passed, reinforcing the transient nature of life.
We all return to soil,
This fate for both is known
For seeds are grown like souls,
In death new life is sown
The sixth stanza underscores the cyclical nature of life and death, noting that all life returns to the soil from which it sprang. This return to the earth is not an end, but rather a part of the continuous process of life, where death gives way to new growth, much like seeds sprouting from the ground.
The ties that bind us taut,
Man’s family tree of souls
Are like leaves naturally wrought,
On branches perched on knolls
This stanza revisits the image of the family tree, comparing the ties that bind humanity to the leaves naturally formed on branches. It suggests that these connections are inherent and deeply rooted, just as the leaves are naturally borne on the branches of a tree, illustrating the organic and essential nature of human relationships.
While deep within the roots descend,
Life’s intercourse with ground
At each and every sunray’s end,
Stirs life, in mysteries bound
The roots of the tree of life are metaphorically linked to life’s connection with the earth, drawing nourishment from the soil. The stanza suggests that life is deeply intertwined with the mysteries of existence, and it is through this profound connection with the earth that life is sustained and perpetuated.
In this endless cycle of life,
The past is future true
The days follow the starlit nights,
As the sun gives way to the moon
The stanza reflects on the cyclical and interconnected nature of time, where past and future are inextricably linked. It compares the daily cycles of day and night to the larger cycles of life, suggesting that as one phase ends, another begins, continuing the eternal rhythm of existence.
The tides slowly ebb and flow,
As mountains rise and fall
Winters warm to summers’ glow,
And spring gives birth to all
In this stanza, the poem acknowledges the constant and inevitable changes in nature, where seasons shift, mountains rise and fall, and life is renewed in an endless cycle. It highlights the perpetual renewal of life, where each season brings its own form of rebirth and transformation.
Life’s chance is in the center
Between the dark and light,
Outward, it grows, from the inner
As diverging patterns fight
This stanza explores the concept of balance and growth, positing that life’s chance lies at the intersection of opposites—between dark and light, inner and outer forces. It suggests that growth occurs as these diverging forces interact, creating patterns that reflect the dynamic struggle inherent in existence.
The voids define the forms,
And the chaos stirs the order
For all opposing forces burn,
Brightest at their border
The twelfth stanza delves into the idea that opposing forces—voids and forms, chaos and order—define and shape one another. The stanza suggests that the most intense and dynamic interactions occur at the boundaries where these forces meet, illuminating the importance of contrast and opposition in the process of creation.
To each and every living thing
The call of life will enthrall,
From the mysteries, up we spring,
Then to them back we fall
This stanza reinforces the idea that life is a journey from mystery to mystery, where all living things are called to participate in the cycle of life. It portrays life as an irresistible force that draws all beings from the unknown into existence, only to return them to the mystery from which they came.
The worm awaits its feast
Our master in the ground,
The most becomes the least
Our death to dust is bound
Here, the poem reflects on the inevitability of death, where all life ultimately returns to the earth. The stanza emphasizes the humbling reality that in death, the most powerful and important among us become as insignificant as the least, with all returning to dust.
Like leaves we have a season,
We pass through life so fast
And no one knows the reason,
That youth and life can’t last
The fifteenth stanza contemplates the fleeting nature of life, comparing it to the brief existence of leaves that live for a season before falling. It acknowledges the mystery of why life and youth are so ephemeral, leaving us to ponder the reasons behind the brevity of our time on earth.
All life awaits its chance
To grow and plant its seed,
And hope the future grants
Its single greatest need
This stanza highlights the universal desire for growth and the continuation of life. It expresses the hope that through reproduction, the future will be granted what it needs most—the opportunity to grow, flourish, and fulfill its potential.
To be a part of life
With roots secured in ground,
While through the bitter strife
New hopes are made or found
In this stanza, the poem addresses the importance of being firmly rooted in the foundation of life, despite the challenges and struggles that come with it. It suggests that through perseverance and the planting of new hopes, life continues to find meaning and purpose.
To reproduce the best
And minimize our faults,
And through our lives attest,
By that which we exalt!
This stanza reflects on the human desire to pass on the best aspects of ourselves while minimizing our faults. It suggests that through our actions and values, we bear witness to what we hold in the highest regard, striving to leave a legacy that attests to our aspirations.
To know of things greater
Than the small part we play,
To know what Creator
Produced us from the fray
The stanza contemplates the idea of a greater force or creator that brought life into existence. It acknowledges the small role each individual plays within the larger scheme of creation, and the importance of understanding the divine origin of life.
For leaves and men the same
Our time is frail and brief,
Cruelty has not been tamed
Nor fairness worth belief
This stanza returns to the theme of life’s brevity and fragility, acknowledging that both leaves and humans have a limited time on earth. It reflects on the harsh realities of life, where cruelty remains untamed and fairness is often elusive.
Some leaves wither and die,
Because they grew too low
And others, perched up reaching high,
Shall never peaceful shadows know
The stanza speaks to the different fates of individuals, comparing them to leaves that grow at different heights on the tree. Some grow low and die early, while others reach high but remain exposed to harsh elements, suggesting that life’s outcomes are influenced by one’s position and circumstances.
For growing high, up above
Has many sights unseen,
Like the moist gift to all beloved,
The silky-shaded dues that gleam
This stanza reflects on the advantages and disadvantages of growing high in life, where one is exposed to both greater challenges and greater rewards. It highlights the unseen experiences of those who reach high, including the beauty and nourishment they encounter.
Some seem like perfect leaves
With broad and beautiful forms,
Yet caught up in a gentle breeze
From life they may be torn
The stanza addresses the vulnerability of even the most seemingly perfect individuals, likening them to leaves that are broad and beautiful but can be easily torn away by a gentle breeze. It serves as a reminder that life’s fragility affects everyone, regardless of their outward appearance.
Most are average size and form,
While others grow not well
Some were diseased and deformed
And quickly died and fell
This stanza acknowledges the diversity of life, where most individuals fall within an average range, while others may struggle with challenges that lead to an early demise. It underscores the reality that not all lives are equal in terms of health, opportunity, or longevity.
The cycles of life will pass through
Its purposes will be fulfilled,
And when destiny wants to take you
No matter what it will
The stanza reflects on the inevitability of life’s cycles and the fulfillment of its purposes. It suggests that when destiny calls, one has no choice but to accept it, reinforcing the idea that life follows a predetermined path.
Give yourself to this flow
And enjoy the time as you wait,
You may only resist to learn and grow
But you cannot resist your fate
This stanza advises acceptance of life’s flow, encouraging one to enjoy the journey while recognizing that resistance to fate is futile. It suggests that growth and learning come from embracing life’s course rather than fighting against it.
For nature is very resourceful
Its mistakes are with pure intent,
It is never at all remorseful
And shall never through force relent
The stanza reflects on the resourcefulness and unyielding nature of life, which proceeds with pure intent and without remorse. It implies that nature’s plan is relentless and will not be altered by force or resistance.
So do not fight its mighty plan
Or force will be met with force,
And in this yielding peaceful span
Shall men then know their course
This stanza advises against resisting the natural order of life, warning that force will only be met with force. It suggests that peace and understanding can be achieved by yielding to life’s plan and accepting one’s place within it.
Life’s truth is so simple,
Its purity is cold and divine,
The skies are our holy temple
Under which we are all entwined
The stanza expresses the simplicity and purity of life’s truth, which is both cold and divine. It presents the sky as a holy temple under which all life is intertwined, emphasizing the unity of all beings within the natural world.
We all yearn for knowledge
The light we need to grow,
We must however acknowledge,
Some things, we cannot know
This stanza reflects on humanity’s innate yearning for knowledge and the light needed for growth. It acknowledges that while we strive for understanding, there are some mysteries that remain beyond our grasp, emphasizing the limits of human knowledge.
Once we accept our design
Living in joy can then begin,
This is the wisdom eluding mankind
It is our pride, we must transcend
The stanza advises accepting one’s place in the grand design of life, suggesting that true joy can only begin once we embrace our role and transcend pride. It highlights the wisdom that comes from understanding and accepting the natural order.
Take what life has to offer you
And make it the best you can,
And understand the simple truth,
It is glorious, to be a human!
This stanza encourages making the most of what life offers, urging individuals to embrace the simple truth that it is glorious to be human. It celebrates the joy and wonder of existence, despite its challenges and limitations.
Accept your place in nature
The truth, you will then plainly see,
We’re but a melody, in one grand overture,
Like the rustling leaves of a tree.
The final stanza concludes with a call to accept one’s place in nature, recognizing that we are all part of a greater whole. It likens human life to a melody in a grand overture, where each individual is like a rustling leaf on the tree of life.
Below is an image I hand created programmatically in the 90s later to accompany the poem, before all of my math, science, and art tools were stolen or sabotaged.
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