When I heard Dr. Rob Gilbert read this beautiful, inspiring poem on his fabulous Success Hotline, (973.743.4690), I knew I wanted to share it with you. We all have times of discouragement and struggle when we feel battered by the winds of circumstance and self-doubt. May this inspire us to grow stronger and endure:
The Oak Tree
by Johnny Ray Ryder Jr
A mighty wind blew night and day
It stole the oak tree’s leaves away
Then snapped its boughs and pulled its bark
Until the oak was tired and stark
But still the oak tree held its ground
While other trees fell all around
The weary wind gave up and spoke.
How can you still be standing Oak?
The oak tree said, I know that you
Can break each branch of mine in two
Carry every leaf away
Shake my limbs, and make me sway
But I have roots stretched in the earth
Growing stronger since my birth
You’ll never touch them, for you see
They are the deepest part of me
Until today, I wasn’t sure
Of just how much I could endure
But now I’ve found, with thanks to you
I’m stronger than I ever knew.
Bravo, Johnny Ray Ryder! Bravo, Rob. Encouraged and inspired, let’s all write on!
My sister got me a little necklace charm one year—an acorn charm, because an acorn grows into a mighty oak, she said. I must’ve needed a jolt of confidence! I have it on a chain with other charms that inspire me: a buffalo, excerpt of the Gettysburg Address, and others. 🙂
Hi Deirdre,
Acorn charm — I love it! What a wonderful gift! I have a charm necklace myself with an angel from my beloved, darling mom and a gilded aspen leaf from my beautiful, beloved sister Judy, and a half moon. Whenever I where it, I feel blessed and lucky!
I loved this acorn poem because one of the major magical characters in my children’s novel is the Tree of Sighs, which loves and protects my little heroine.
Write on,
Karin