A Journey in the Wood

A journey in the wood

I went for a walk in the wood the other day
Such a pretty day, the wind so soft and sun gently warm
I felt the glow on my back as I ambled down the path
And the stir of air cooled my cheeks
The trees whispered quietly, swaying in time to my feet

I caught the cry of a finch, startled unaware
Moved by the snap of the twig underfoot
My heart reached out to soothe
But it fled spreading fear and the silence deepened
So I sat down on the fallen log in my way

My eyes closed and my ears awoke
Oh there…a cricket starts to fiddle
And the bee kisses the flower, taking and giving life
A royal symphony in A minor wing conducted  by a squirrel
Keeping time, flicking her tail, clicking her teeth

My nose twitched, scent of honey so sweet
Flavors of tiny wood rose, truly fleeting and faint
Tangled with the pepper sweet smell of crushed grass
My soul drank deeply, hungrily, needing to fill
Feasting on earthly humors rising from the soil

Contentment sank in slowly, easing away
The stress of the day not yet done
As I gave myself up to a slower time, a stasis of kind
One by one, the cares stilled their voices
Til I was left with only myself, so heavy, immobile

And on the bosom of life, I searched myself, naked
For what I had become, what I once was
Questioning my path, inspecting my motive
Where was the truth, the control, and my destiny
Have they all fled in abandon, then ?

I released my consciousness, seeing from the inside
Inspecting my body, childlike, without restraint
Ah ..proud muscle, sturdy bone, tender heart, such a fine mind
Flawed, yes, but alive, regrowing, scars slowly dissolving
Busy, keeping its own schedule, Natures pendulum swaying

I marveled at the music I played inside
Turning chemicals to motion, thought and hope
A child’s voice sang out in two part harmony
Beckoning to me, flashing images like a sign
All wayposts from the past, playing at the speed of light

Too soon the dream state lightened, nature calling
It pulled me up, up, inexorably faster
And I popped into the light, breathing fast
Sound exploded on me, echoing my rebirth
The wood rejoiced and joined with me
Leaving me refreshed and whole again

It is not often enough, this renaissance, this pause
The call is faint so late in life
Pressing needs shout it down
We must all be vigilant then and listen intently for
The call to take a walk, down the path in the wood


Milburn  9-2008