Poemorama at Paper Poetry

The One Tree in the Forest Fallacy

An unconventional sonnet

She couldn’t see the forest for the trees Her focus always fixed on one species A single tree that stood out from the rest One she’d spent her life being obsessed

So many other trees grew all around They being rooted deep in fertile ground Their role in life to support each other They were stronger when they stood together

Although she was told not to be so blind “Just look what’s on both sides and behind Open your eyes and see what you’re missing Each forest tree needs care and nurturing.”

A forest is like one big family One tree being the best, a fallacy.

© Carolyn Hastings 2022

The idiom, can’t see the forest for the trees, typically refers to someone who can’t get past the small details (individual trees) to see the ‘big picture’ scenario (forest).

However, when you think about it, the expression applies just as well to situations where a person values a single entity to the exclusion of all others. That single entity could be another person, or it could be money, work, sex, diet, fitness, social media — virtually anything that a person might obsess about. It’s an unhealthy imbalance that, if not addressed, ultimately leads to mental health issues and other nasties.

I’ve written this piece as an unconventional sonnet in that the rhyme scheme consists of seven couplets rather than three abab quatrains and a couplet as per a standard Shakespearean sonnet. We’re all allowed to be unconventional at times! 😜

This piece was written in response to Paper Poetry’s Poemorama Part II one-word theme prompt: forest. To find out about this and the other nine one-word prompts, check out Suntonu Bhadra’s announcement here -

Poemorama is running to the end of April so there’s still plenty of time to join in the global celebration for National Poetry Month. Looking forward to hearing from Megan Nicole Morgan | Lee Ameka | Dennett | Erika Burkhalter | GB Rogut 🙏 ✨

Thank you all for reading. 🙏 💕

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