Perhaps a China Berry Tree

Perhaps that's not its true name,
I recall it fondly, all the same:
An anodyne for a craving heart,
a lonely youth's subterfuge set apart
from all the vicissitudes of a boy's life
slicing out destiny like a frenzied knife
through summer afternoons of boredom and bliss.
How was I to know that a common tree like this
could assuage, with its fragrant blue sprays
a boy's longing for belonging--
and beauty-filled days.





Poetry by William Hughes The PoetBay support member heart!
Read 103 times
Written on 2025-10-11 at 19:17

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William Hughes The PoetBay support member heart!
Thanks for your gracious feedback. It means a lot to me.
2025-10-12


one trick pony The PoetBay support member heart!
Your poem led me to wonder if I have a touchstone such as your China Berry tree. I'll have to think about it. The expressiveness did evoke memories—a sensitive portrayal of youth and longing.
2025-10-12


Lawrence Beck The PoetBay support member heart!
Well done.
2025-10-12


anonface The PoetBay support member heart!
This poem turns an ordinary tree into something sacred through memory. The way you capture a boy’s longing for belonging, and how beauty can be found in the simplest places, makes this piece both tender and timeless.
2025-10-12