The Forest of Life

This is an allegorical poem about life. There are happy times and hard times, and this is just a reminder to keep Him at the center of all things.

The Forest of Life

She wandered through the forest, her heart in her eyes;

She smiled as a chipmunk scampered across the path.

Oh to be free like a bird and soar through the sky,

Or hop through the leaves under big floppy ears.

The song in her soul burst through on the wind; 

It sounded as though there were angels around.

She skipped and she twirled on the dew-covered moss,

Until suddenly there she was brought to a halt.

The trees became taller and loomed all around;

The light became darkness; she wanted to cry.

She did not understand why things happen this way,

Or why nobody cared that she’d gone so far astray.

The song in her soul was put out like a fire;

She choked on the air and the wind made her shiver.

She didn’t see rabbits or chipmunks or birds,

And the smile she once had was not there anymore.

She tripped and she fell then she lay there in pain;

Her soul felt so weak, so empty and bare.

The light seemed so far from her heart, and she gasped,

For the urge to go on did not come anymore.

Then suddenly there from the branches above,

She heard the sweet notes of a bird's cheerful song.

At first she saw nothing, she nearly gave up,

Then down came a bluebird all covered in love.

It sat there in silence as it looked at the girl,

Then it gave a somber chirp and tilted its head.

It beckoned her to follow and flew farther on,

So she staggered to her feet and followed after the song.

Until once again she was walking along,

In the sunlight filled forest, her heart filled with song.

She recalled where she’d been, and where she was now,

And gave thanks to the One who’d been there all along.

A little while later as she traipsed through the leaves,

She saw a sweet daisy all covered in dew.

It was weighed down by each drop of water it felt,

But it held its petals high with perseverance and hope.

The girl kept on going, but ahead she could see,

That the light from above was fading into the deep.

The forest grew foggy, and the trees began to howl;

She tripped on a root and stumbled to the ground.

Exhaustion and pain climbed into her soul,

And her heart was weighed down by a tingling grasp.

The mirror of tears that collected thereupon,

Showed a girl's broken heart through eyes full of woe.

She almost gave up; she almost gave in;

For what was the point of continuing now?

But then she remembered the daisy she’d seen.

With petals held high in the silent song of hope.

He reminded her how He’d been there all along,

And would be there to love her despite all her faults.

So with strength from Above, she arose from the ground,

To keep walking the path through the forest of life.

Author's Note

What are your thoughts?? Is there anything that stands out to you? Do you have a favorite line or stanza?