BRAVE NEW WORLD

circa. 1970

5 poems

#5

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THE OLDE OAK TREE

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The old oak tree

makes an ancient eery sound

Its roots spread out

deep within the ground

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The gnarled old oak tree

solid, sound and true

Its branches provide shelter

for me and for you

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The great old oak tree

tis’ a worthy sight to see

I wish something like that

could be said of me

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writtenbyedenbray81971

Ref. 03062020

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~ 50 year anniversary ~

#Authors Note ~ This poem is modelled on a piece I wrote around 1970. The Olde Old Oak Tree was originally one of five diverse poems that were accepted for a published Anthology entitled something like – ‘This Britain’ which went on sale to the general public at that time. It was an Anthology of collected poetry that was intended to reflect the inner soul of the society of that day. It was multi-cultural and reflected work from the broadest possible section of 1970’s Britain – all ages, sexes, ethnicity, political or religious standpoints. The poetry although diverse only included works of a recognised literary standard and it became an important, historic and cultural record. I myself would love to obtain another copy.

The Oak Tree was the Final piece of the original collection that I wrote which included four other Poems that all together challenged the society of the time; social values, politics, law & order, police brutality and law enforcement, drug use and abuse, life experience including faith, religion and prejudice among other powerful issues. 

The Poems themselves were regrettably mislaid around 1973/74 and I have since made repeated attempts to rewrite them – if not word for word – then with the aim of capturing the same forthright views, the optimism, verve, colour and intensity that I remember they were so brim full of. I was 19/20 years old!

This piece, being the shortest of the five, holds a plainer meter and a more memorable lyrical content. It has always been the more personal, reflective and consequently most suitable finale to the Collection. I believe it is also the most accurately reconstructed of the Collection, finishing very close in both form and word to the original.

The point of the piece seems clear to me in that despite holding to a wider awareness and appreciation of the role of society, authority and government, it will always remain that ultimately it is our individual responsibility, our personal vision, our self-respect and quality of character when applied to the whole and in sufficient numbers that will determine if everyman, woman and child can attain a better standard of life and society. 

These re-written and now completed pieces I hope apply themselves to society today making them as pertinent, relevant and I hope profound as I believe the original collection were that I wrote 50 years ago

I have now entitled these Poems as my personal “Brave New World” Collection and the previous four re-writes have already been published on this Blog-site under the same heading. I offer this poem and the full Collection to you dear reader with my best and most heartfelt wishes! –   

                          edenbraytoday

Ref. 03062020

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