The moment boots imprinted soil,
the scent of bark and undergrowth
embraced us. We brushed past
rusty ferns and sodden grass,
and acres of trees exhaled
into fragments of sky and cloud,
a sigh that hugged our lungs
and filled them with a woody song.
Pinecones on the path, like Hansel
and Gretel crumbs, paved the way
into darkness, away from the day,
the only sounds the crunch of feet
on twigs and stones, the sough
of wind and intermittent bird chatter.
Flanked by sturdy trunks and limbs,
the everyday no longer mattered:
no cars, no news, no electricity,
just the deep woods, inhabited,
for the duration of a walk,
by wise old trees, and you and me.
Kim M. Russell, 12th January 2020
My poem for Poets and Storytellers United Writers’ Pantry #2: Storms and Stones and Warmth
The first quick draft of a poem about last Sunday’s walk in the woods. I’m hoping we might make it to the beach today.
You really take us into the woods – full of enchantment and a little sense of danger (like all good fairy tales)
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Thank you, Jae. I was hoping to go to the beach today, but we’ve decided on a ruined Abbey on the Norfolk Broads. I hope to get some interesting photos.
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What a lovely environment to be in!
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We’ve just got back from another walk. I hope to write about it next week.
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Nature is such a healer…………
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It is indeed.
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Very cool, Kim!
Almost all of my woods walks have been solo, hermitic migrations attempting to leave behind everything except all the wonderful stuff you write for us here.
Well done!
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Thank you kindly Ron!
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This is absolutely gorgeous, Kim! 💝 I especially resonate with; “Flanked by sturdy trunks and limbs, the everyday no longer mattered.”
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Thank you, Sanaa!💟
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Love the way this reads as if you’re visiting friends–the welcoming woods are wonderful.
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The trees feel like friends. I love them.
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How wonderful it is when we are able to happily lose ourselves in the comfort of the beauty of nature that is woodland.
Well written Kim.
Anna :o]
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Thank you, Anna. 😊
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There is nothing like a walk in the deep solitude of the woods.Beautiful!
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Thank you, Linda!
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It has been too many years since I visited England, but your poems always take me back to the remembered ambiance of the countryside. I think of all the great poets of literature and how nature has been an all-pervading source of inspiration over the centuries.
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Your words make me very happy, Kerry.
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“trees exhaled…A sigh that hugged our lungs” I literally took a deep breath after reading that. A walk in the woods (or the beach) is sometimes all that is needed to find a little peace.
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I’m happy those lines hit the spot, Lori.
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I feel rejuvenated, after reading this one. As if I just got to tag along (and a non-creepy sort of way) and was able to delight in the lack of noise pollution, in the cleansing song of birds, in the company of trees…
I love this.
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🤓
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That sweet escape expressed so well where “the everyday no longer mattered.” This is my longing almost every day and I work on our sanctuary that you’ve described here. Thank you, Kim.
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Thank you for reading and commenting.
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I love the title of your wonderful poem … for it’s the way I feel when hiking through our woods.
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Thank you, Helen, I’m glad you like it!
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I love how you capture all the senses in this wood-walk.. especially the sounds. (were the silence of our normal sounds might help)… Hope you made it to the beach and back today.
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Thank you, Bjorn. In the end, we left the beach idea for another day and went to a nearby ruins of a medieval abbey. It was a long walk but worth it.
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Your draft seems so complete and lovely. So nice to have such a memory. I felt like the trees smiled as you walked by.
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Your comment has made me smile, Myrna!
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I wonderful walk.
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Thanks!
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I love how each of these winds along on the walk with us–and how each stanza could stand alone–beautifully done!
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Thank you!
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I especially love “a sigh that hugged our lungs / and filled them with a woody song”. Wonderful imagery and thank you for taking us on this walk with you!
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Thank you for coming along, Helen!.
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Oh, I love those walks through ancient limbs of wisdom.
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🙂
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That’s so lovely!
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Thank you, Rajani!
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O Kim, you had me walking at the old church park at Saint Johnswood, and then into the leaf strewn paths through the old cemetery. Then squirrels and moss covered unreadable tombstones standing crooked to join me.
..
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I’m so pleased my poem took you there, Jim!
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