Contemplation

One day when you find yourself in hills

of tall trees and whispered secrets,

Believe in the glories of nature

and you can sit and watch trees bloom--

tiny green buds a hill or two away.

 

When you've seen enough of the sky,

regard the tiny ant in his race against time

running everywhere and nowhere.

There are lessons to be learned there.

               

Listen to the sounds carried on the wind

rhythms and melodies unrivalled in

a too noisy world.

 

And when you've tired of sitting,

walk along through the trees and the brush

and discover the leafy-forgotten

flowers and ferns in the undergrowth

each perfect and lovely in its own reticent way.

 

And when you've done with walking and dreaming,

fly away home on wings of rapture,

the wonders of the hills will be there waiting for you

when you find your soul again in need of refreshment.

 

Next time that I go to surround myself 

with grass and rocks and trees

I'll remember to take you with me.

 

Author's Note

it seems strange to come back to something that I wrote so long ago, but I've made some changes and I'm happier with the way it flows

Reviews

[W.k.kortas]

Well, if it's not your best, you can rest easy knowing your best must be pretty damn good. Has the feel of classic pastoral writing, with that languid pacing, but it's somewhat sermon-esque or valedictionary (if that's a word) as well. Despite your protests to the contrary, it's a very nice piece of writing.

[Zane Mathias]

very in tune with nature this is.. love this poem i did. Great write i do feel.lol i am Yoda to day. Love the imagry and the warm fellings surrounding this piece

[Dezaraye]

You took me along with you in this piece for sure. Emily, this is such a beautiful, breathtaking piece. I love your imagery and the magical way in which you drew me inside of this beautiful moment. Thank you for the escape today, I needed it. :)

[TL Boehm]

oh please take me with you....the descriptions in this are so strong...they make me a bit homesick - beautiful writing Emily. Gentle and uplifting. Like spring rain...or a soft summer wind. Awesome writing.

[AubreyJade]

Peaceful. Soothing. Makes me long for a walk in the woods. This reminds me somehow of Anne of Green Gables...

[Tamme]

You say it's not your best... but I felt you already took me along with you. You are so good at describing nature. :)

[KUFU]

I like this Emily. Maybe i'm feeling a little nostalgic today, but all things soft and beautiful seem to catch my eye today. This work is beautiful. The secret mountain-top garden you so vividly depict in this gentle work puts my spirit at ease. As I read, I felt as if I was transformed into a Highland Gorilla!! Strange...I know, hey but you made this happen. Blame yourself. :-)

[Solst Rapture]

It's a beautiful piece of writing and more special to me than most will realize. It makes me want to explore it. I want to be there with you, looking out over the valleys with the sun shining on our backs, glorifying life, pushing the weeds aside from our minds and allowing the world to dazzle us with it's finer things; daises, daffodils, cows - I love cows. My brother thinks they're Evil, for some odd reason, but I think they are quite beautiful. In a way that means I am placing your writing in the same basket as I'd place cows. I hope you don't mind that?

It's lovely.

[Raef C. Boylan]

I think this is great. Of course, only you know your own heights and limits, but it seems great to me. The beginning launches us into the piece a little awkwardly, and also appears to be a sentence that goes nowhere - should that full stop be at the end of the third line?
Ohter than that, the expression and sentiment of this were really captivating. It felt refreshing, like mountain air that you suck in and it seems you might be the first to have ever inhaled it.
"regard the tiny ant in his race against time
running everywhere and nowhere." - I like ants; also like the contrast of tiny fascinations to the giant beauty of mountains. It's all equally amazing.

Good write Emily.
Keep at it until you feel satisfied...but don't put the poem down. We like it :-)

[An Ordinary Woman]

The hills and all they offer are one of God's treasures to me. I miss the hills and seeing the sun peek over in the mornings. I wish I were there right now. :+(

This is lovely, Em.