There is always a trail, a place to regain pieces of me that I have lost. Today I set out on an unfamiliar path, craving the calm that never fails to elude me. Deep in these woodlands I am shadowed by my own muse. The trees speak to me in wordless ways. One in particular demands my attention and I reach out to caress battle scarred bark, running my fingers along ridges and grooves in silver tones. This is art, sculpted by time and elements. My mind wanders briefly to wonder why something so observable can be so overlooked. The soft percussion of a woodpecker wakens me from my philosophical thoughts. This is music, a sampling of Mother Nature’s sweet song. Looking down, I admire the gnarling of roots planted firmly but not afraid to be exposed and vulnerable. I sit down beside them, letting them take me to seed and soil, the simplicity of life, uninterrupted. I breathe in the essence of pine and become one with the earth.
rosin’ up the boughs
trees burst into silent song
forest floor sun dance
For Haibun Monday at dVerse Poets Pub, Toni (kanzensakura) shares with us some very interesting Japanese techniques for clearing our mind and has asked us to write about our own favourite ways to rest and relax. Drop in, pull up a seat and enjoy some peaceful poetry.
mishunderstood 
Trees burst into silent song – WOW! Exactly what happens. Love this 🙂
I relish the times of renewal within the arms of nature. So, it seems, do you.
Oh yes!! Thanks for reading. 🙂
Love the attention to aural details and imagery here, and the personification of the woods. Especially “I reach out to caress battle scarred bark, running my fingers along ridges and grooves in silver tones,” and “gnarling of roots planted firmly but not afraid to be exposed and vulnerable.” Feels like something out of Tolkien. These elements really make you feel that being amongst nature is a return to innocence; to a more magical way of viewing/empathizing with the world around us.
YES. Trees soothe me, too. I love this.
I love trees! To become one with the earth for even a moment is heady stuff.
Having taken the trail today, I feel refreshed and one with the earth ~ I specially love this line:
This is art, sculpted by time and elements.
I think that I shall never see a blonde more beautiful than a tree. I hug them, thank them for holding back erosion, for making o2. You had me at /this is music, Mother Nature’s sweet song/.
Love your haiku and playful “rosin up the boughs” 😄
Blessed are those who can hear the singing of the trees!
I’m truly enjoying these peaceful walks everyone is on. Yours is quite inspiring as well! Beautifully done.
I think we must walk on similar paths… the best way to relax.. and I do love the sound of a woodpecker.
I’ve always loved that scent of pine, particularly when the sap warms. Your lovely poem has brought back some wonderful childhood memories for me. Thank you.
‘forest floor sundance’ is just the best line I read for a while. Everything leads up to that. Beautifully done.
Tree huggers unite! And they do sing and speak, don’t they? Woodpeckers…. the brave gnarled tree roots…all of this. From start to finish. Just glorious. And the haiku…oh my heart how gorgeous. Thank you for this lovely write.
So many things to love in this. Right at the beginning: a place to regain pieces of me that I have lost, and then the tree that called to you. I love to touch the textures of those rugged barks that have endured so much. Beautiful haiku. Make me want to sit there on that forest floor for a spell.
I love your description of the tree’s burly and rugged trunk and of the “silent” stories they have to tell. A wonderful haiku…”forest floor sun dance”…love that.
letting them take me to seed and soil, the simplicity of life,
uninterrupted. I breathe in the essence of pine
and become one with the earth.
Such a feeling of serenity if one can muster the awareness of nature’s quiet silence. Only poets and artists can cause it to themselves
Hank
SMiLes..
bottom
line..
Nature
we are
ONE..:)
Marvellous creatures, trees!