Born of Wood and Sun
ViM's January prompt, Wooden.

Wooden, I rise...formed of the Mother Earth
Rising. Rising. Raised up high and exalted
From the roots of the trees of my African birthplace, I burst forth from the soil...Of wood am i made.
Nature molds me like the trees, growing, growing upwards.
It templates my toes, calves, thighs, knees, hips, breasts, throat and neck
from the tips of my feet to the crown of the Queenly Afro upon my head
Wooden I am configured and shall ever be...verdantly blooming.
So here am I...
an abstract sculpture of me in this wooden metaphor of life
Emerging from the rich, ancestral roots of Africa, I am a unique embodiment of my heritage.

As the trees reach their branches toward the sky, so does Mother Nature shape me with care, crafting my essence from the wood of life.
I stand tall, rooted in tradition...and here I grow, ever-evolving, forever forged from the timeless, natural substance that connects me to my beginnings.
I am as a tree, deeply seeded in the Black soil that nourished my people, Roots of symbolic connections and strength drawn from generations before me.
As I grow and bloom wherein i am planted, Mother Nature sculpts me, just as she reaches up to shape the wind and sky.
My trunk, limbs, drink from the earth, my roots, reach outwards, representing...connecting with the world and the people around me. My feet, firmly planted in each footstep, signify stability, grounding me in my identity.
Mu soul absorbs sunlight and the nutrients of the soil as i sprout proud, reaching to Heaven and Earth, the stems off durability and strength, embodying the timeless essence of our cultural legacy.
Wooden as a metaphoric photosynthetic carbon and oxygen painting, life becomes a breathing picture of us, you, me...Encompassing all. Beings who are both connected to the past and continuously growing towards the future.
We all play a part in highlighting the interplay between tradition and progress, showing how we are shaped by our ancestry while also carving out our own singular path in the world.
We are all unique, but same on a deeper level...
In this abstract, we are not just static figures, but living, evolving epitomes of the enduring spirits of our lineage, fashioned by nature and time, ever-standing and ever-striving.
Wooden, branching, reaching...ever growing.

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The prompt
About the Creator
Antoni De'Leon
Everything has its wonders, even darkness and silence, and I learn, whatever state I may be in, therein to be content. (Helen Keller).
Tiffany, Dhar, JBaz, Rommie, Grz, Paul, Mike, Sid, NA, Michelle L, Caitlin, Sarah P. List unfinished.



Comments (8)
You dug deeply into the meaning of the word and gave it your own spin.
This one absolutely thrums!
Oh goodness gracious, I love this with much joy and appreciation. It is an anthem to Africa, may we see her one day. Wonderful.
Your writing is a heartfelt and poetic exploration of identity, heritage, and growth. It resonates with a sense of pride, strength, and connection, making it a truly inspiring piece.
All your pictures complement your poem sooo magnificently!
Very nice
Gorgeous. As Charles said, Well-wrought <3
Well-wrought! The ancestor tree can shade us and bear us fruit so long as we don't burn down the vaster forest to which it belongs, as some of our ancestors have done. Yours, however, is a message of hope! Wood which grows and supports life!