Nature speaks through poetry—a tree, a butterfly, and a blackbird! Sometimes gently, other times it screams at me, in a loud attention-getting voice I have to listen to! Notice me, it says! Here’s a poem I wrote about that topic. Enjoy!
Along the Way, Nature Screams at Me!
May 1995
Along the way, nature screams at me—
look and see me here—
A butterfly, orange and black
dancing in a circle
sucking sweet nectar and life.
A red rock half buried
but screaming at me to see
its bright color,
its lasting character.
A woodpecker pecking hard
at life.
A pine cone, dry and brittle
once the hope of new life.
A stick, simple
dry and cracked
wanting to be noticed–
to be touched and admired.
A bone—life given up
dry and bleached.
A coyote, killed its prey,
cleaned it of meat and
sustenance.
#
Artifacts, pieces of life
things here in the woods
no value
trash to some people,
but to me–
life as it is–
colorful, dry and lifeless at
times, yet teeming with life.
#
Tall trees bow to the earth,
the weight of their existence
dragging them down,
the pain,
the misery,
closer and closer to the earth,
mother earth
who nurtures and gives life.
A silent stance of prayer
of renewal, commitment
yet deadly–pulling
the life out of them–
pulling, dragging, relentlessly
and death
a cycle of life
strength and overkill
too much though
much like life.
The light through the trees,
shines bright,
but it’s the shadows that call me.
The long profile of trees melt into one
and shadows take over–
dim, dark, cool,
blackening the view.
Like feet the roots of a tree grow down–
supporting and balancing its
tall counterpart.
Sounds abound
the quiet, gentle breeze whispers
come see, come hear, come listen.
#
A pesky fly bothers me–
at my elbow, my thigh,
my wrist, my ear,
my hair
buzzing, circling,
demanding then gone.
The sun peeks through the top of the tree
Just a minute ago shining full force
on me.
Now only a hint–like a light slowly
going out.
A mosquito bite on my hip itches,
demanding attention and care.
Bird racket echoes in the quiet–
someone’s not happy.
She’s demanding her way.
Her children are late in coming home,
and she wants her male partner to form
a search crew. He refuses to listen, so
she continues to screech.
Wind, swaying the tops of the trees,
in a gentle rhythm to and fro–
a soft hand moving through them.
The sound is gentle yet strong.
A power moves them
but only the tops.
Pine cone, rock, bone, tree
connected to life and earth.
All a product of–
laying there ready to be seen.
#
Energized with power and strength.
Self-confident and knowing who you are–
but what about the trees
no question,
no doubt.
Strength connected to your creator.
The busy insane life I left
melts into peace and serenity.
I want to be a tree,
standing firm in a forest,
serenaded by the birds, bees, insects,
the rocks and leaves.
The serenade of the forest–
a tune that ears can’t hear–
easily.
Yes, you can hear the birds
the dirt,
the grass,
the leaves.
#
A sweet melody of love,
dependence,
self-worth
assurance.
A jazz beat, a samba, a slow luxurious waltz.
All these sounds unite in nature
and play if you’re listening,
not with your ears,
with your heart!
The smells touch me–fresh and clean and green.
Not artificial, contrived,
but powerful,
new
exciting!
Life-giving
alive
renewed
a sharp contrast.
Deep meaning–
This is peace–
this is serenity!
Void of structure
calm
letting my heart listen,
receive the message
and alter my negative energy!
I feel it–
I’m being altered
right now.
The lump in my throat is gone,
that anxious twitch in my stomach
that dry, cotton mouth
the urge to run and do something–
gone!!
Nature heals,
but I have to be here,
sitting outside
away from cities,
demands,
chores!!
And I have to leave that behind!
Then nature heals!!
Nature screams at me sometimes igniting my soul. I must listen. And poetry comes out!
News, News, News!
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