The Mango Tree

[ellz483]

I sat above the ants in the Old Mango Tree
They cowered as they stared up at me
The gentle wind blew my nappy hair
Against green leaves that rustled where
Their stems were weak and the Black Bird
Had pecked violently at them.

In the Mango Tree, branches rotted
Parallel to time itself. Not one day passed
That the decomposers did not make their rounds
Yet, I climbed higher in the boughs
And soon, I saw the whole neighborhood
Every corner and alleyway disclosed to me
And I spied where my friends played in the street
But no one could see me.

Heat made the fragrance of the fruit even sweeter
Those Floridian jewels shone amber in the groves
Colored orange between thick rays of sun
The mango flesh I devoured
Made my mouth water and my hands sticky.

I slid down the sturdy trunk
My brown skin scraped against rough bark
Specks of blood marred the pulsing wood
As insects lapped it fervently
Tropical humidity splashed my face
As I descended back to Earth
The Mango tree covers me now
Like the umbrella covers in rainstorms.

Its leaves brush the spider webs
That clung to me up above
And now, I am of the ants and,
The Mango Tree smiles at me.

[rowens]

Again, this is a poem that I'm wary to dig too deeply into critically just yet, because it quickly struck a pleasant note with me. You seem to be in fine control of what you're doing, and I read it as a finished work, an entity in itself. That's the point of view I read it from, because that's the mood I'm in, and this poem fulfilled that mood. I'd like to hear you read it.

[Poppy]

If this was mine - I think I would want to be the only one to make any alterations (if needed).

I would leave it a day or two come back to it, read it out loud, and if you hear or feel nothing out of step walk away and leave it be.

The imagery is wonderful.

One I really enjoyed.

Poppy ~xx~

[ellz483]

thank you for all the support. i was considering reciting this one at an open mic night, and i just wanted some pre-performance feedback!

[destiny1313]

I really enjoyed this poem when reading it I felt as if I was you and the mango tee and the air and it was beautiful. It reminds me of childhood