Invasive cells

sorenbarrett

The strangling fig puts a tree in the brig, bars made of wood
Growing like lace its limbs do encase the prisoner for good
Knitted walls bar its falls, a tree imprisoned where it stood
A life sentence rendered, a life surrendered, innocent and misunderstood

Comments +

Comments10

  • nephilim56 ( Norman Dickson)

    A most beautiful description my friend

  • Paul Bell

    Am I right in thinking the fig eventually becomes the tree.
    Sure I read this in school years ago.
    Nature sure shocks you at times.

    • sorenbarrett

      Thanks Paul yes you are right it is a banyan tree. Although not all banyan trees engulf another tree some do. They are not good neighbors if you have a pool for their roots run along the surface for hundreds of feet puncturing pools and climbing walls in search of water. Appreciate the read my friend.

      • Paul Bell

        The same as the dreaded Chinese knotweed that some idiot introduced into Britain causing chaos.

      • arqios

        Sounds similar to the Moreton fig which does not piggyback on the host tree and kills it but is invasive in its own way that to plant one close to a house or to build beside it is a guaranteed death sentence to the structures erected close by . 🙏🏻🕊️

        • sorenbarrett

          Thanks Cryptic for the read. Yes I was inspired to write this as I was pruning some branches from one that have wound around and up a palm near to the house. Banyan trees are great but in their place.

        • Teddy.15

          They are a part of Tuscan heritage, their roots are annoying but their fruits well can be made into jam which is delightful with pecorino cheese! 🌹

          • sorenbarrett

            Thank you Teddy for the read and comment it is always most appreciated.

          • Tony Grannell

            Hello, Soren,

            ...and the fig thrives I love poems about nature as it really is, no romancing the truth or colouring in the numbers. This is an excellent poem, claustrophobic, merciless and creepy, as it should be. Accolades galore for this one, my friend.

            Wishing you all the best,

            Tony.

            • sorenbarrett

              Thanks so much Tony your words mean a lot. I was out yesterday trimming a limb off one and that brought this one up.

            • orchidee

              Good write SB. Ohh, I can't have figs though - not figgy biscuits nor figgy pudding. It's TMI (too Much Info) to say why, but you can guess! lol.

              • sorenbarrett

                Thank you Orchi for the read and comment it is most appreciated. Well forget the figs we will see if we can get you some prunes instead

              • Tristan Robert Lange

                Soren, there’s something damn unsettling about nature building the prison and serving the sentence at the same time. Great piece, my friend. 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦‍⬛

                • sorenbarrett

                  Thanks Tristan for the read and comment yes nature is a cruel but just administrator. Justice not by human value but by hers

                • Kevin Hulme

                  Didn't know that about Figs. Learn something everyday. Come Christmas that's Figgy Pudding ditched.
                  A fine write.

                  • sorenbarrett

                    Thanks for the read Kevin. Don't let it spoil your appetite I love figs.

                    • Kevin Hulme

                      My Pleasure 🍴🍰🍪

                    • Doggerel Dave

                      The variety of Strangler Fig (of which there are many) I’m most acquainted with is the Moreton Bay Fig (mentioned by arqios above). It is very large, magnificent in its untidiness. They line parks everywhere in Sydney, and along theEastern seaboard, although If I were wealthy enough here to own a house, I would keep any or all well away from my expensive property. I just enjoy them where they are and feel that your admirable poem, rich in detail is nevertheless a little harsh in its judgement, Soren. All life feeds off other life, humans are the most…and so on…

                      • sorenbarrett

                        Thanks a lot Dave yes you are absolutely right about the judgmental nature where having property requires its maintenance. Seeing one that had engulfed a beautiful palm tree it was forced to prune it, some branches growing too close to the house roof. I felt a twinge of pain loping off two of its branches and that is what stimulated the poem in the first place my friend.

                        • Doggerel Dave

                          Ah, but you are at the other end of the threat spectrum, living in a grass hut in the Brazillian rainforeat, ain't yer?😜👍☺️

                          • sorenbarrett

                            So true it is my friend

                          • NafisaSB

                            like leeches, humans also tend to exploit those who help them - beautiful way of expressing this thought

                            • sorenbarrett

                              Thank you so much Nafisa indeed they do sad to say.

                              • NafisaSB

                                yes - best avoidable if possible
                                take care, and have a productive day/weekend



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