The Lightning Strikes

by imalivetoday

Published May 4, 2011

The thunder rolls
Just a few seconds before
The lightning strikes.

The tree stands
All alone
In a barren, quiet field.

Its branches blow and
Its leaves rattle,
Endlessly,
In the humid summer night.

The wind picks up speed
And strength,
Plowing through
Whatever happens to be in its way.

The tree is young,
Lacking the knowledge
And experience.

The thunder is
A warning,
But who
Really listens?

The lightning strikes;
The tree is split
In half,
Forever broken.

Comments & reviews · 7
User avatar
mellophone7
Comment
mellophone7 commented Comment · May 6, 2011

I like this. Although it does seem to be lacking something, I'm not sure what, it's still special in its own way. Your style's nice. Keep writing!

User avatar
freewritersavvy
Comment
freewritersavvy commented Comment · May 5, 2011

Nice job. You obviously have your very own style! It is quite beautiful!

Keep writing,
~FW~

User avatar
EtCetera
Review
EtCetera wrote a review Review · May 5, 2011

Don't know about anyone else, but broken seems too tame of a word to match the destructive power of lightning. Destroyed, shattered, rent into pieces, etc. would work much better in the last line. Otherwise, very nice piece, I can see exactly what's happening in the story. Well writ.

User avatar
silentwords
Review
silentwords wrote a review Review · May 4, 2011

Wow, I loved the poem :)
There was some great imagery and symbolism in this poem. I couldn't find any corrections or suggestions. Well, actually I think that you could add to this more and embelish it a bit, but it sounds really good so far. Try and maybe pull out some more emotion. Also, I just wanted to say that I loved this part:

The tree is young,
Lacking the knowledge
And experience.

The thunder is
A warning,
But who
Really listens?


Great poem and welcome to YWS! :)

User avatar
Butterfinger
Review
Butterfinger wrote a review Review · May 4, 2011

Hey there! I really enjoyed your poem! It flows nicely since you broke it up into stanzas!
My favorite part:

The thunder is
A warning,
But who
Really listens?



I wouldn't recommend any changes on this because in its own way, it's beautiful. It doesn't have to be filled with over exaggeration and description (which can be fun to write at times :) ) because it tells its own story. Keep writing!

User avatar
qaralynn
Review
qaralynn wrote a review Review · May 4, 2011

helloo!
I'm not really good at reviewing so be warned :D
At first I want to say that I really like this poem! I love the imagery in this..I can totally see that field with the young tree in front of me..
I don't have any criticism for you :)

My favorite parts:
-my favorite of favorite parts XD

The tree is young,
Lacking the knowledge
And experience.


-other favorite parts
The thunder is
A warning,
But who
Really listens?

The lightning strikes;
The tree is split
In half,
Forever broken.


nice work! I enjoyed reading this
-qaralynn-

User avatar
AmeliaCogin
Review
AmeliaCogin wrote a review Review · May 4, 2011

Hi! first of all, welcome to YWS! If you need anything at all, don't hesitate to PM me with a question or two!
This poem was...unusual. I liked it. The concept was good but in my opinion needs to be developed. The langauge you used was very obvious: I think you need more description and imagery to spice this poem up. Gramatically, this poem was fine. However, although it was not monotomous, you poem did lack...something. A spark maybe? I can't put my finger on it. Your layout was excellent, aswell as the stanza arangement. Well-done. Keep writing :)
~ Amelia



The necessary beauty in life is in giving yourself to it completely, only later will it clarify itself and become coherent.
— Richard Linklater