Pages

Saturday, May 30, 2015

TO THE FOREST, DARK AND DEEP



I thought I'd put my heart into a poem,
and take it to the forest, dark and deep,
find the mossy path, the broken limb,
a perch from which to read the trees to sleep.

So sonorous, all words verdant and green,
so soft the moss, the pages all between.
I turn them, leaf and fern, salal and flower,
sweet and protected, in my leafy bower.

The dark will tiptoe in on doe-like feet,
will settle tenderly upon the boughs,
and I softly away, and smiling sweet,
the forest safe and dreaming deep, for now.

Oh forest dear, my sanctuary blessed,
it is to you I come, when I seek rest.


A sonnet from early 2014, re-posted here for the Poetry Pantry at Poets United, where you are likely to find a lot of good reading, come Sunday morning. 

43 comments:

  1. Good to see this again, giving back to where we gained our peace and strength!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Beautiful. I can tell your heart is here.

    ReplyDelete
  3. The forest is definitely a beautiful sanctuary....a comforting place to visit in every season!

    ReplyDelete
  4. This poem is lyrical and has a peaceful ambiance. beautifully written :-)

    ReplyDelete
  5. The forest is a wonderful place. A book in itself with all its verdant bliss...

    ReplyDelete
  6. Nature is a pious abode, giving rest to one and all.

    ReplyDelete
  7. A must have book for all to read & derive peace....

    ReplyDelete
  8. When we search for truth and reality the forest is best place to go. Mankind has so much to learn and so little time. Beautifully done Sherry.

    ReplyDelete
  9. The forest is a most peaceful sanctuary :D loved this magical piece :D

    Lots of love,
    Sanaa

    ReplyDelete
  10. To read the trees to sleep... beautiful!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. The heart is there for sure..and magical and beautiful it is too xo

    ReplyDelete
  12. I head out to the forest everyday with my old temple dog. A most inspiring place!

    ReplyDelete
  13. such a soulful soliloquy. loved this

    gracias mi amiga

    ReplyDelete
  14. That is where I retreat as well. We took a hike last weekend up around the lake. Saw a black bear cub as well, which was a moment of excitement as I did not want to meet the mama and have her think I was messing with it. Everything is so alive right now too.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I love it. I miss the ability to take a walk in the woods when I like. I'll need to start doing it again.

    ReplyDelete
  16. reminds me of the forests i used to visit as a kid

    ReplyDelete
  17. One of your best!!! Wonderful lines!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Really a most perfect sonnet, Sherry!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Every step on the forest floor, every breath of the loamy air is another line in a living poem.

    This is lovely Sherry glad you shared it once again.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Oh, Sherry, I could sleep so soundly on these words... covered by the promise of each line... secured that if he night grows dangerous, your heart-full forest will keep me safe.

    This is so powerful and beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  21. If I could ever find a good tree out here in this desert, I'm sure it would read me to sleep, and not vice versa!

    ReplyDelete
  22. A lovely contemplative poem

    Have a nice Sunday

    Much love...

    ReplyDelete
  23. Sherry,
    Your poem worked very well with the country landscape where I went for a walk yesterday. It had all the ingredients for a rewarding connection with nature. So peaceful and uplifting..
    Enjoyed this poem and its placement, very much,
    Eileen

    ReplyDelete
  24. I don't remember this one, but so glad you reposted. It's lovely. I had a smile on my face while reading it and I wish there was a forest near that I could visit. I'd love to talk to the trees. Hope you're well.

    ReplyDelete
  25. A beautiful poem as you give to the forest and take rest...such a wonderful relationship.....'a perch from which to read the trees to sleep' spoke volumes to me.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Ah, the forest is a good place to take your heart and poem. Sherry, I absolutely love this poem you brought the leaf pages to life and I too find the forest to be a sanctuary.

    ReplyDelete
  27. The whole thing is absolutely glorious, but that last line.....whoa...splendid :-) Definitely resonates with me, too, Sherry.

    ReplyDelete
  28. I love the trees and I love the idea of reading them to sleep. This is such a wonderful and serene write

    ReplyDelete
  29. There is something so primal and eternal about a forest sojourn that evokes lovely lyrical, emotive contemplations. You've captured the nuances of the forest spirits that are revealed to you in that sanctuary, so beautifully here, Sherry.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Thanks for this reminder Sherry, that the forest is a place where we can rest and relax our minds. Being away from the city would be a great stress-reliever.

    Yesterday, I watched a 2-min video (narrated by Julia Roberts), how people need nature. Hope you can see it.

    Nice seeing you again :)

    ReplyDelete
  31. I see you've been to my backyard :)
    Everything seems to have grown overnight

    ReplyDelete
  32. Everyone loves the forest. So do I. It's like as you put it, a "sanctuary" for the poet and writer to be immersed into it for a great imagination outcome! thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Love this line "to read the trees to sleep" ~ it's powerful to be able to guard/nurture in some way the forest! Wonderful poem!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Beautiful as always :) So nice to be reading your words this morning. Love the reading the trees to sleep :) Also wanted to give you a little shout out for being so supportive. You're quite a blessing :) Hope you have a good week!

    ReplyDelete
  35. This one definitely clinches your writing gifts.
    ZQ

    ReplyDelete
  36. What a wonderful gift, knowing your refuge and having opportunity to seek it.

    ReplyDelete
  37. indeed, a good place to (re-) visit, Sherry ~

    ReplyDelete
  38. each line brought us closer to that rest

    ReplyDelete
  39. i love this. there's just something about your work...it brings the reader back to nature. i just want to take my shoes off and walk barefoot through the grass!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for visiting. I appreciate it and will return your visit soon.