‘Washington’s Cherry Tree Mistake’, A New Selected Poem

Washington’s Cherry Tree Mistake is the second poem in the “Walking In My Own Shadows” eight part mini-series.

Washington’s Cherry Tree Mistake

When Washington chopped down the cherry tree
I think it was a mistake to hand him the ax
because when that cherry tree fell
I could hear the crash.

Why couldn’t Washington be given the sea?
Offered a fair-weather ship to relax
and take the reins to sail
to the land of ash.

My heart aches for those cherries of blood
falling at his feet right where he stood
as if life wasn’t nearly as precious
as the burning of the bush.

Severed at the roots and covered in mud
its soul never to bud
felled in one swoop
left to droop.

How bittersweet it must taste
iron and steel
bark and hide
erased with covetous zeal.

This cherry-like liquor
poured into the ground
lifting the pitcher
for another round.

I think it was a mistake to hand him the schnapps
for only a drunkard falls to his own ax.

Note From The Author

At first glance Washington’s Cherry Tree Mistake may revolve around a theme of nature’s demise — hinting at the destruction of beauty — however this isn’t the case.

The poem is actually about making unintentional mistakes. The final couplet being a testament to how a person can easily fall into their own demise without truly realizing it.

Oftentimes this leads to a sense of remorse and regret. Which is represented by the cherry tree in this poem. Such a beautiful part of nature cut down at the roots.