Words and Pictures: Pruned Oak

Lory quotes June 21, 2017 1 Minute

Landscape with an Old Oak Tree, Adriaen van Ostaede – 1650 (source)

Pruned Oak

Oh oak tree, how they have pruned you.
Now you stand odd and strangely shaped!
You were hacked a hundred times
until you had nothing left but spite and will!

I am like you, so many insults and humiliations
could not shatter my link with life.
And every day I raise my head
beyond countless insults toward new light.
What in me was once gentle, sweet, and tender
this world has ridiculed to death.
But my true self cannot be murdered.
I am at peace and reconciled.
I grow new leaves with patience
from branches hacked a hundred times.
In spite of all the pain and sorrow
I’m still in love with this mad, mad world.

— Hermann Hesse

From The Seasons of the Soul: The Poetic Guidance and Spiritual Wisdom of Hermann Hesse, translated and with commentary by Ludwig Max Fischer, published by North Atlantic Books, original work in German copyright © 2011 Surhkamp Verlag Berlin. Reprinted by permission of North Atlantic Books; please do not copy without permission.

Published by Lory

Looking for the magic in life, language, and literature. View all posts by Lory

Published June 21, 2017

6 thoughts on “Words and Pictures: Pruned Oak”

Laurie @ RelevantObscurity says:

June 21, 2017 at 12:28 pm

This is pretty wondrous, Lory. There are plenty of poems with the theme, “they pushed me down, but I will rise up” but this, with its nature imagery is right up my alley. For sure,

“I grow new leaves with patience
from branches hacked a hundred times.
In spite of all the pain and sorrow
I’m still in love with this mad, mad world.”

This is a treasure…

I still have that post in mind where you recently shared some spiritual books. I think this was one of them? Anyway, thanks for this 🙂

LikeLike

Reply
1. Lory says:
  
  June 21, 2017 at 1:05 pm
  
  Yes, I did post about the book and I very highly recommend it. Both the poems and the commentary are wonderful.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply
Brian Joseph says:

June 21, 2017 at 6:39 pm

Thanks for posting this verse. It is very much Hesse.

I love Hesse’s novels but I have never read his poetry before. I should pick this volume up.

LikeLike

Reply
1. Lory says:
  
  June 21, 2017 at 9:34 pm
  
  You definitely should, Brian!
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply
Ruthiella says:

June 23, 2017 at 6:12 pm

Thanks for this Lory. I am usually so ignorant (and afraid) of poetry.

And I must with Laurie @ RelevantObscurity, those last lines are spectacular.

LikeLike

Reply
1. Lory says:
  
  June 24, 2017 at 9:46 am
  
  I used to read more poetry, I really should make it more a part of my life again. Glad you found this poem worthwhile.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply