The Tree

 A Tree more Valuable than Gold

 I wrote this poem a few years ago. I asked ChatGpt what it meant and as usual it gave a good answer. The poem and ChatGpt's response are given below. 

Here along the reef lies a sunken treasure

Of a ship that sailed but did not measure

I seek to find it soon

Under eloquent stars and moon

I use starlight to navigate the seas

It will be in moonlight the treasure will be freed

Of foolish men who did not see

That numbers will ruin their destiny

I reach the treasure sailing East

But the stars disappear with my endless needs

I throw the treasure overboard

I need the stars to sail back home   

 

The stars guide me to reach my isle

I walk inland a hundred miles

I reach a jungle of a billion trees

But I came here for just one tree  

  

Here in this jungle grows a hidden tree

That all the eyes in the world cannot see

I seek to find it soon

Before they seal my doom

What is gold but a hideous thing

That kills more men than a ruthless king

But each atom in this wondrous tree

Has magic in it that can cure all ills

MEANING OF THIS POEM ACCORDING TO CHATGPT

This poem is an allegorical exploration of materialism versus spiritual or inner fulfillment, using the metaphor of a journey by sea and land to describe a deeper quest for meaning, healing, or enlightenment.

Here’s a breakdown of its core meanings and symbols:

1. The Sunken Treasure and the Ship That Failed

"Here along the reef lies a sunken treasure / Of a ship that sailed but did not measure..."

Sunken treasure represents material wealth that was lost due to a lack of proper judgment ("did not measure").

The ship may symbolize human ambition or pride, brought down by miscalculation or hubris.

2. Stars and Moon as Guides

"I use starlight to navigate the seas / It will be in moonlight the treasure will be freed..."

Stars and moon are symbolic of intuition, wisdom, or spiritual guidance.

The speaker relies on celestial navigation—not tools or charts—suggesting a more internal or natural guidance system.

3. Condemnation of Materialism

"Of foolish men who did not see / That numbers will ruin their destiny"

"Numbers" likely symbolize obsession with calculation, wealth, or science devoid of wisdom.

The poem critiques those who reduce life to figures, ignoring the intangible truths.

4. The Treasure’s Cost

"I throw the treasure overboard / I need the stars to sail back home"

Once the treasure is found, it corrupts the speaker’s ability to navigate.

He discards it—symbolizing the rejection of material gain in favor of restoring clarity, purpose, or spiritual direction.

5. The Inland Journey

"I walk inland a hundred miles / I reach a jungle of a billion trees / But I came here for just one tree"

This second leg of the journey shifts from sea (the unconscious or emotional realm) to land (the conscious or physical realm).

The jungle of a billion trees suggests overwhelming options, distractions, or false paths.

The "one tree" is a metaphor for a unique truth, purpose, or sacred knowledge.

6. The Invisible Tree

"That all the eyes in the world cannot see"

It can’t be seen with ordinary vision—only through inner perception or enlightenment.

This tree represents a higher truth or spiritual gift (like the Tree of Life, or knowledge).

7. Final Philosophical Reflection

"What is gold but a hideous thing / That kills more men than a ruthless king"

A direct critique of gold (i.e., material wealth), calling it destructive.

Contrasts with the wondrous tree, whose atoms "can cure all ills"—suggesting this sacred tree offers healing, knowledge, or transcendence that wealth cannot.

Overall Meaning

The poem portrays a spiritual journey:

Initially driven by a desire for treasure (gold),

The speaker learns that material riches bring confusion and loss of direction.

Only by rejecting them can he return to a true path, which leads to an inner quest for a unique, invisible source of healing or wisdom.

It’s a moral, philosophical, and spiritual awakening.