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 creekscleanse 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,
17 comments:
Awesome.
There is something magical about the mountains.
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.
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...
I have traveled through the Smokies and agree with your lovely thoughts about them.
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.
A beautiful shelter in natures glory....this is beautiful! :-)
I so understand the grounding of nature as strong as old revivals, Judy. Beautiful....
Judy
Your love of this special place is beautifully alive in this work..enjoy CA
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/
Loved every beautiful line, especially the two closing lines. Beautiful, kiddo!
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!
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 :)
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
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!
Beautiful pairing of verse and photo!
That blue haze would get me, too...
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