Saturday, May 27, 2006

Broken Branch


Before (what I'm doing for fun today):


"That time of year, thou mayest in me behold..."
when a large branch inexplicably breaks from the old oak tree
and I ponder whether it is worth the risk
to set the ladder against the tree
ascend some twenty feet
and by means unknown
remove the rest
of the broken
branch

Means of ascent (above)

Security jump rope (below)






Break time (post these shots, tie a rope on the branch):






an amputree...



And so it ends, this drama aloft -


and I, safe upon the ground
know well that many a man
could and would have done
more swiftly and with greater skill


but nonetheless
I'm grateful
that the ladder
didn't kill

13 comments:

floots said...

you can borrow my chain-saw
(but it might cost a bit in travel to collect/return it) :)
go easy
be safe

steve said...

thank you, floots - wonderful offer - will post the progress here:)

Neetee said...

Don't forget to ask permission of the tree to do what needs to be done. If you're going to be 'up a tree', there's nothing like being in harmony with nature at the same time.
:)

polona said...

now i'm interested in what comes next :)

Anonymous said...

hmm... a metaphor for life perhaps...i think its worth the risk, if you really are threatened by the branch and life will be better when it's removed. ;) the safety gear is a really good idea, though. hee

Anonymous said...

:)

steve said...

There is of course more to do - cut the remaining piece off closer to the tree, cut up the branch for firewood, dress the immediate 'wound' (done), and notice other branches needing attention...but one story at a time. Thank you all, this has been sort of an adventure, and less of a pain than if I'd done it alone.:)

J. Andrew Lockhart said...

I'm glad it was you, not me! That looked a little too high. :)

Masago said...

...shoulda made a tree house while up there! :-)

floots said...

great additional words 'n' pix
glad you're down to earth again :)

steve said...

vaughn - my son would love it - yesterday he managed to be upon the neighbor's roof!

floots - thank you - glad that part is done!

polona said...

thanks for the update - a job well done!

Pat Paulk said...

Steve, ladders can be wicked things. Enjoyed the photos and read!!