August 10, 2007

Poetry Friday: The Forest for the Trees

LOST

Stand still. The trees ahead and bushes beside you
Are not lost. Wherever you are is called Here,
And you must treat it as a powerful stranger,
Must ask permission to know it and be known.
The forest breathes. Listen. It answers,
I have made this place around you.
If you leave it, you may come back again, saying Here.
No two trees are the same to Raven.
No two branches are the same to Wren.
If what a tree or a bush does is lost on you,
You are surely lost. Stand still. The forest knows
Where you are. You must let it find you.



“Lost,” by by David Wagoner, from Collected Poems 1956-1976 (Indiana University Press)

Poetry Friday is a means of finding oneself. Take a look at where else you might end up at the Poetry Friday round-up, hosted by Big A, little a.

6 comments:

divatobe said...

hmmmm, the woods??? trees? This is really lovely!

Little Willow said...

That is a BEAUTIFUL poem. Wow.

Also a beautiful picture.

The setting fits what I chose today as well.

Anonymous said...

Damn, that's beautiful. Truly, magically beautiful. Thank you for that.

Anonymous said...

Oh, that really is too much beauty. I may have to walk away for a bit and let that one sink in. Thank you.

Saints and Spinners said...

I really like this. Thanks for posting it.

Andromeda Jazmon said...

Lovely poem and photo! I am standing still as I can over here.