Primdale Hive from Legacy: The Saga Begins‘Poet Tree’: An Excerpt from Legacy: The Saga Begins, by Michael Pietrack The Society March 8, 2023 Beauty, Children's, Poetry 27 Comments . Poet Tree Legacy: The Saga Begins is a 14-chapter narrative poem. In this excerpt, the adolescent hero Abelbee, who has to venture deep into the Great Wood to find wise Vallenbee, arrives at Vallenbee’s Place. Abel finds an unbound scroll on a desk. It’s a poem that Vallenbee wrote to remember his own father, Victorbee. I come again to Poet Tree to write, to pass my father’s wisdom—share his light. His voice now speaks, yet only through my pen and with each crafted stroke, he lives again. Is there a worse, more powerless frustration than longing for another conversation with those remaining speechless now forever? I write so that his words we may remember: . “Why Boast?” a double sonnet writ by Victorbee: My son, I’ve noticed that you’re prone to boast, as if our honey-craft was something learned. And here again, your cup is raised to toast yourself with praises that you haven’t earned. So listen well and let’s look all around: How can the beavers build without a tool? Who writes the birds their song and gives them sound and loads the spider’s loom and spindle spool? Who lullabies the bear to wintry sleep and then awakens him upon the hour? Who schools the squirrels on what to leave or keep and flavors flowers to be sweet or sour? So do not boast about a given skill, as if a porcupine who flaunts his quill. Why boast as if the syrup comes from you? Do you produce the honey on your own? Please show to me the nectar that you grew. See, nothing on this earth does it alone. Without the soil, seeds cannot take root. Without the sun and rain, no sprouting seed. Without the sprout, no flower’s nectar loot. Without the nectar, there’s no honeybee. Were you the one who heated up the sun to lead the orchestra of bud’s rebirth? Was it your voice that riled rivers to run and fixed the mix to fertilize the earth? Was it the soil’s choice to house the seed? Or does the water fuel the land by chance? And does the sun bring heat for its own need? A wise Designer’s seen at every glance. My son, please see the foolishness it is to boast and claim the praise that’s rightly His. . . Michael Pietrack is a writer, businessman, and former baseball player who resides in Colorado. NOTE TO READERS: If you enjoyed this poem or other content, please consider making a donation to the Society of Classical Poets. The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary. 27 Responses Roy Eugene Peterson March 8, 2023 There are some great lessons in this exceptionally well written poetry with beautifully told imagery taken from nature and pointing out that it is the work of the Great Designer. Reply Roy Eugene Peterson March 8, 2023 I wish to add the use of “Poet Tree” was inspired. The double entendre adds to the luster. Reply Michael Pietrack March 8, 2023 Roy, thank you so much for these kind and validating words. This was my first attempt at a sonnet. Originally it was written in couplets, which is the form that “Legacy: The Saga Begins” is written in, but I wanted to change it up for this poem within a poem. The whole book gives credit to a Designer, so I’m confident you’d love it. I was proud to have the likes of James Sale, Andrew Benson Brown, Susan Jarvis-Bryant, and Evan Mantyk endorse the book. Having their names on the back cover meant so much to me. FYI: I enjoyed your The Meek, Not Weak, Shall Inherit the Earth. Michael Reply David Bernard March 8, 2023 Now we see what all the buzz is about as it relates to Legacy. This excerpt will provide a snapshot of the wonderful writing that is consistent throughout the book. When you look at nature, do you see a wise Designer? Is everything working together a wonderful random coincidence? The subtly in this poem is that when new discoveries are made, one may boast, but in the end, those discoveries are more like “uncoveries” of how the wise Designer did it. Reply Michael Pietrack March 8, 2023 Ah nice catch on the subtly. I had the idea when reading the book of Job. Reply David Bernard March 8, 2023 Is the porcupine that boast about his quill a jab at arrogant writers? Is quill a double entendre? Cynthia Erlandson March 8, 2023 This is really quite delightful –both the idea, and the way you have carried it out! Reply Michael Pietrack March 8, 2023 Hi Cynthia, I am so happy to learn that you liked this short excerpt. I’ve enjoyed your work too. If you like this, I’m confident that you would love Legacy: The Saga Begins. Reply Michael Pietrack March 8, 2023 @DavidBernard The beautiful thing about poetry is that the reader sees the things they see because of the lens through which they look. Reply David Bernard March 8, 2023 True! Perhaps I do think arrogant writers who boast about their work and tear down others as quite the bristly porcupines. Reply ABB March 8, 2023 There is some nice imagery here. I especially liked the following stanza with its imagery and alliteration: Who lullabies the bear to wintry sleep and then awakens him upon the hour? Who schools the squirrels on what to leave or keep and flavors flowers to be sweet or sour? The concluding couplets really clinch the message also. Well done! Reply Michael Pietrack March 8, 2023 No one does the power couplet like ABB! Reply Peter Lillios March 8, 2023 An admirable message, expressed equally admirably. Some really lovely wordplay and rhymes on offer here! Poet Tree! Reply Michael Pietrack March 8, 2023 I’m a big fan of yours Lillios, so your comments carry weight. I had to edit out a part where the dad etched “Don’t Boast” into his son’s skull. I thought it might be too dark. 😉 Reply Peter Lillios March 9, 2023 The dad really missed a great teaching opportunity there! It would have been a nice little reminder every time his son looked in a mirror, a real gift that keeps on giving. Save it for the next volume! Norma Pain March 9, 2023 I really enjoyed both of these poems. I loved the beautifully expressed message in “Why Boast?” Thank you Michael. Reply Michael Pietrack March 9, 2023 Thank you Norma, you’ve always been so kind to me. This is actually one poem called “Poet Tree’. The main character is reading a poem called “Why Boast”, so it is a poem within a poem. I think you would really love Legacy: The Saga Begins, from which this excerpt is taken. Please check it out and let me know your thoughts. Reply Norma Pain March 9, 2023 Thank you Michael. I will do that. On review, it sounds really interesting. Holly Jacobson March 9, 2023 Beautifully stated, Michael. Your poetry speaks to many of us in ways that other poetry does not. I appreciate your imagery and how you eloquently make the ordinary became extraordinary! Very impressive. Well done, as always! Reply Michael Pietrack March 9, 2023 Well, thank you Holly. I am very pleased to know you liked it. Even though art brings the artist intrinsic happiness, it does add to it to know that other appreciate it as well. Be noble. Reply James Sale March 10, 2023 I love the homely story-telling of Michael’s fable and the way it crafts its moral messages. Here we have a double sonnet powerfully advising against boasting; an important topic. But bigger still is the overarching theme of Legacy overall, the freedom of the will: a message not just for young people, but for all of us as we see even our ability to pray becoming an illegal act. Reply Michael Pietrack March 10, 2023 Thank you James. God has a way of humbling the haughty and there is nothing more haughty than claiming He doesn’t exist, taking credit for things that we humans didn’t achieve. Remember what happened with Daniel when prayer was outlawed… Reply James Sale March 12, 2023 Indeed, remember … thanks. Patricia Allred March 10, 2023 Michael~ your poem leaves me wonderfully breathless, as if I were on the aquamarine floor of the sea! Your acknowledgment of God in a world besieged by vanity, is so verily true! You are an exceptional poet, Michael…I will be revisiting this masterpiece more than once today. Thank youL Patricia Reply Michael Pietrack March 12, 2023 Thank you Patricia, that means a great deal to me. This is from Legacy: The Saga Begins, which I think you would enjoy. Your comment made my day, so thank you for the encouraging words. Reply themindflayer March 13, 2023 The gently interrogative nature of this double sonnet reminds me of the Book of Job. Michael Pietrack therefore vivifies the ancient teachings for our modern times. Wonderful, evocative, and simply and elegantly expressed. Reply Michael Pietrack March 13, 2023 Thank you. All the pieces of nature fit so perfectly together to sustain life. The boasting sophisticates even claim to have invented God, as if it is a construct of the human mind. Or I hear people giving credit to Mother Nature or The Universe. They will give credit to anything but God. Reply Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Roy Eugene Peterson March 8, 2023 There are some great lessons in this exceptionally well written poetry with beautifully told imagery taken from nature and pointing out that it is the work of the Great Designer. Reply
Roy Eugene Peterson March 8, 2023 I wish to add the use of “Poet Tree” was inspired. The double entendre adds to the luster. Reply
Michael Pietrack March 8, 2023 Roy, thank you so much for these kind and validating words. This was my first attempt at a sonnet. Originally it was written in couplets, which is the form that “Legacy: The Saga Begins” is written in, but I wanted to change it up for this poem within a poem. The whole book gives credit to a Designer, so I’m confident you’d love it. I was proud to have the likes of James Sale, Andrew Benson Brown, Susan Jarvis-Bryant, and Evan Mantyk endorse the book. Having their names on the back cover meant so much to me. FYI: I enjoyed your The Meek, Not Weak, Shall Inherit the Earth. Michael Reply
David Bernard March 8, 2023 Now we see what all the buzz is about as it relates to Legacy. This excerpt will provide a snapshot of the wonderful writing that is consistent throughout the book. When you look at nature, do you see a wise Designer? Is everything working together a wonderful random coincidence? The subtly in this poem is that when new discoveries are made, one may boast, but in the end, those discoveries are more like “uncoveries” of how the wise Designer did it. Reply
Michael Pietrack March 8, 2023 Ah nice catch on the subtly. I had the idea when reading the book of Job. Reply
David Bernard March 8, 2023 Is the porcupine that boast about his quill a jab at arrogant writers? Is quill a double entendre?
Cynthia Erlandson March 8, 2023 This is really quite delightful –both the idea, and the way you have carried it out! Reply
Michael Pietrack March 8, 2023 Hi Cynthia, I am so happy to learn that you liked this short excerpt. I’ve enjoyed your work too. If you like this, I’m confident that you would love Legacy: The Saga Begins. Reply
Michael Pietrack March 8, 2023 @DavidBernard The beautiful thing about poetry is that the reader sees the things they see because of the lens through which they look. Reply
David Bernard March 8, 2023 True! Perhaps I do think arrogant writers who boast about their work and tear down others as quite the bristly porcupines. Reply
ABB March 8, 2023 There is some nice imagery here. I especially liked the following stanza with its imagery and alliteration: Who lullabies the bear to wintry sleep and then awakens him upon the hour? Who schools the squirrels on what to leave or keep and flavors flowers to be sweet or sour? The concluding couplets really clinch the message also. Well done! Reply
Peter Lillios March 8, 2023 An admirable message, expressed equally admirably. Some really lovely wordplay and rhymes on offer here! Poet Tree! Reply
Michael Pietrack March 8, 2023 I’m a big fan of yours Lillios, so your comments carry weight. I had to edit out a part where the dad etched “Don’t Boast” into his son’s skull. I thought it might be too dark. 😉 Reply
Peter Lillios March 9, 2023 The dad really missed a great teaching opportunity there! It would have been a nice little reminder every time his son looked in a mirror, a real gift that keeps on giving. Save it for the next volume!
Norma Pain March 9, 2023 I really enjoyed both of these poems. I loved the beautifully expressed message in “Why Boast?” Thank you Michael. Reply
Michael Pietrack March 9, 2023 Thank you Norma, you’ve always been so kind to me. This is actually one poem called “Poet Tree’. The main character is reading a poem called “Why Boast”, so it is a poem within a poem. I think you would really love Legacy: The Saga Begins, from which this excerpt is taken. Please check it out and let me know your thoughts. Reply
Holly Jacobson March 9, 2023 Beautifully stated, Michael. Your poetry speaks to many of us in ways that other poetry does not. I appreciate your imagery and how you eloquently make the ordinary became extraordinary! Very impressive. Well done, as always! Reply
Michael Pietrack March 9, 2023 Well, thank you Holly. I am very pleased to know you liked it. Even though art brings the artist intrinsic happiness, it does add to it to know that other appreciate it as well. Be noble. Reply
James Sale March 10, 2023 I love the homely story-telling of Michael’s fable and the way it crafts its moral messages. Here we have a double sonnet powerfully advising against boasting; an important topic. But bigger still is the overarching theme of Legacy overall, the freedom of the will: a message not just for young people, but for all of us as we see even our ability to pray becoming an illegal act. Reply
Michael Pietrack March 10, 2023 Thank you James. God has a way of humbling the haughty and there is nothing more haughty than claiming He doesn’t exist, taking credit for things that we humans didn’t achieve. Remember what happened with Daniel when prayer was outlawed… Reply
Patricia Allred March 10, 2023 Michael~ your poem leaves me wonderfully breathless, as if I were on the aquamarine floor of the sea! Your acknowledgment of God in a world besieged by vanity, is so verily true! You are an exceptional poet, Michael…I will be revisiting this masterpiece more than once today. Thank youL Patricia Reply
Michael Pietrack March 12, 2023 Thank you Patricia, that means a great deal to me. This is from Legacy: The Saga Begins, which I think you would enjoy. Your comment made my day, so thank you for the encouraging words. Reply
themindflayer March 13, 2023 The gently interrogative nature of this double sonnet reminds me of the Book of Job. Michael Pietrack therefore vivifies the ancient teachings for our modern times. Wonderful, evocative, and simply and elegantly expressed. Reply
Michael Pietrack March 13, 2023 Thank you. All the pieces of nature fit so perfectly together to sustain life. The boasting sophisticates even claim to have invented God, as if it is a construct of the human mind. Or I hear people giving credit to Mother Nature or The Universe. They will give credit to anything but God. Reply
