Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Forest Home



Forests in the Western North Carolina
mountain range gives me shelter
from the rain, and tempest winds.
The serenity quinches my thirst, 
fills me with sustenance--
with spirit that is nature, and a vastness of  life.
I can live in dense growth of  underbrush
and in  mists of  clouds. How small I am standing
there, how huge my heart grows as I see what is real.

The forests of the Smokies ground me as fast and hard
as the old time revivals of my childhood.  The creeks
cleanse me like baptismal waters until I am new.
The forests there give me strength I long for,
make me stand tall next to the elder oak
until I can stand alone without it’s shadow.
I’m a wanderer until I reach the foothills,
a seeker until I am home.

Note*: Forest Home was written for Peggy's prompt "Forest" over at Poetry Jam.

17 comments:

Bill said...

Awesome.

Bill said...

There is something magical about the mountains.

Mary said...

Very nicely and caringly worded, Judy. The last few lines are just beautiful:

I'm a wanderer until I reach the foothills,
a seeker until I am home.

Thank you for jamming with us over at Poetry Jam.

Brian Miller said...

the creeks bap[tize me...lovely...played in a few of those creeks...i was in NC for 7 years....a seeker until i am home, that def speaks to me as well....love it...

Helen said...

I have traveled through the Smokies and agree with your lovely thoughts about them.

Peggy said...

Such a beautiful tribute to a beautiful area. I love the many images you have woven here so artfully. No wonder this place brings you peace.

Carrie Van Horn said...

A beautiful shelter in natures glory....this is beautiful! :-)

Ann said...

I so understand the grounding of nature as strong as old revivals, Judy. Beautiful....

Anonymous said...

Judy
Your love of this special place is beautifully alive in this work..enjoy CA

S.E.Ingraham said...

This is beautifully rendered; makes me wish I was from there and I could go home too ...nicely done.

http://nsaynne.wordpress.com/2012/05/18/in-the-woods-the-stand/

Sherry Blue Sky said...

Loved every beautiful line, especially the two closing lines. Beautiful, kiddo!

Mary B. Mansfield said...

This is so beautiful, reminded me of some old family stories about my great-grandfather baptizing members of his congregation in a mountain stream in West Virginia. We can definitely find a bit of redemption in the forest. Nicely done!

Daydreamertoo said...

You're like me, I'm always so happy to be in the thick of nature. It somehow shows us how small we are in comparison to the reality of life.
Lovely prose and pictures too :)

Laurie Kolp said...

Love your take on this, Judy. It sounds like the mountains to you are like the beach is to me. Great metaphor here, too-

I can live in dense growth of underbrush
and in mists of clouds

Hannah said...

This is such a tender travel into memory and feelings, Judy.

I love this part so much:

" How small I am standing
there, how huge my heart grows as I see what is real."

Great write!

Madeleine Begun Kane said...

Beautiful pairing of verse and photo!

Jinksy said...

That blue haze would get me, too...