The beam above the ingle nook
was old and black and gnarled.
I sat by the fire and pondered
the story that beam revealed
Centuries back a stately oak
was humbled before the axe,
reduced to planks by a two-man saw
and shaped with aching backs.
A mighty ship was constructed
in urgent need for Britain at war.
The ship saw service on many an ocean
before retirement on a friendly shore.
Timber was always needed
so the vessel was swiftly raided;
stripped of planks and beams –
homes were soon completed.
The signs are there above the hearth,
square bolts date the broken ship,
built so long ago –
by carved graffiti identity fixed.
Now that beam is hearth and home
as valued a part of our life
as ever it was through war and strife
but first, it was a tree.
18.1.14 for dVerse, who want a tree poem. A ten-minute freewrite left me with lots of ideas, but this story from our home in the eighties allowed me to explore more than just trunk, branches, leaves and fruits, so I ran with it. In the morning I may be able to put my hands on a photograph of that beam.
Vivinfrance's Blog 
Came back to see the photo. Really, this is a most amazing tale, Viv.
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Trees have been on my mind, too – resulting in a re-living, though, not a poem in my last post but one-
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My dream is to live in a home brimming with history – how wonderful it must have been for you.
Anna :o]
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I had never thought about a previous life of an Oak beam before. How interesting.
Ciao
Pea
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What a gorgeous ode to a gorgeous tree Viv…next to birches, oaks are my favourites…this sounds like such a sturdy, grand tree. Well done.
http://thepoet-tree-house.blogspot.ca/2014/01/when-trees-weep.html
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Here, there is both a sense of history and near-immortality accorded to the old oak that gave its wood to be used by man. I guess that lends a certain perspective to the whole issue of saving trees.
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Wonderful story–I love the histories of old houses (and their beams)–“but first, it was a tree.” Brilliant ending. Thank you for sharing this.
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Lovely. I once lived in a cottage with oak ship’s timbers and inglenook. It just breathed character:) I feel how you were sorry to leave this.
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I like how the beam was different things at different times, and then something to let you touch history and distant places.
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Love the old beams in historic homes…how beautiful they are as they live a second lifetime in such a family setting….giving out warmth…hate to think of the lack of integrity in many homes today.
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what a grand life that tree lived, from one incarnation to the other. We should all be so useful and so loved!
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As a ‘Heart of oak’ to go adventuring, and then retirement in a quiet cottage – wonderful.
Hope you post that photo!
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Photos are up now – I had to rummage and scan etc.
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Wonderful exercise for the imagination!
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Sparks the imagination that all things are more than what they seem.
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…and the tree lives on. 🙂
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…but first it was a tree—now, that’s heart breaking…. but life, sometimes, is like that: lives to do good; dies to produce good… smiles…
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Your closing line and progression to it is perfection, Viv!! To read the history of this tree with the rhythm that carried your reader, such a joy!
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“But first it was a tree”…..wonderful, Viv. In so many older homes, we still find the care and craftsmanship lacking in the newer homes…..they may be expensive and pretentious, but often built with pressed wood – not many of those big old beams around any more……..
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This is an amazing story, Viv. Fills me with awe. I do hope you can find a photo; and, like Brian, I will revisit tomorrow to see.
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I love the story of the old timber… how it was used and reused.. I have a house from 1850… but I’m sure the timber is much older. And just looking up you have the history looking at you.
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Most interesting story, Viv! It certainly was a house with a history. How wonderful that the carved graffiti could still be seen on the beam.
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…but first it was a tree… I love that ending, Viv!
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what a journey… from a war ship to the peaceful safety of a family home… love how you trace along its lifeline…
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I love how this tree ‘lives’ on…its usefulness inexhaustible.
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That is the neatest thing – a true story poem. LOVE!
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A great story told. That is amazing. The history of the beam is traced back to when it was a tree and then becoming a part of the ship… eventually coming out to be what it is today. Wonderful. It is strange to think of such events and understand the complexity of fates.
-HA
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wow. this is a true story then? what a cool story behind the beam in the home…history on top of history…pretty cool….your plank has seen quite a bit of the world…would be cool to see a pic…i will check back tomorrow…
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Absolutely true. And our old home had been the village post office, with the postbox still inset in the front wall of our sitting room. A house I was really sad to leave.
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