Near to Home

“Yellow House in Winter Woods” by Bob Richey

 

heaven exists near to home
in this season of silence
a snow settled wood
holy ground
hushed and greenless
my open air chapel
white altarcloth
laid for communion of creatures
crisp air charged with prayer
hoof and paw
fur and feather
my congregant fellowship
take benediction of snowflakes

unseen aspergillum
dispensing white whispers
each whisper
containing an answer
each answer
containing a blessing
each blessing
containing a chance
to experience grace
all it takes is a heart
humble willing and open
inspired to a reverence for life
here and now near to home

 

 

From my book Ephemera

Paradise

“Woodland Walk” by Niamh Slack

 

my sylvan soul

would lie in woodland

green touched gold

by fingered sun

here to watch the life

I left behind continue

in proud regal skin

of bear and moose

who amble in their

monarch paths to

sparkling streams

that run their cold

and clean fresh

course between the

footsteps of my

years I’d hear the

birdsong I once sang

find further voice

my legacy in chorus

with blonde swarms

of bees and zephyr

breezes slipping

through the leafy

hands of sturdy boughs

the hardy bones that

gave me posture in

my treeless youth

when learning how

to stand against

unkindness of the

urban world and dream

this time of sweet

escape to sleep upon

soft needled thatch

that beds these shady

trails where all my

never meets forever

close to creatures

feral in their peace

with God and nature

joined in mind to

help me find exquisite

blest eternal rest

 

 

From my books Pieces of Wine and Legacies (vol. 2)

Infinity

“Forest Glade by Walter Boodle

 

forever ago
I carved my infinity
into the knee of a tree
and the woods came alive
with hurt whispers of why
and an everlast promise
they’d never forget
my brief passage
no need of my sign
to remind them
we shared an
affection

(originally posted December 2013)

Impresario

“Summer Woodland” by Janice Warriner

the talents of trees

entertain every window

concerts of color

delightful ballets

lithe of movement

with vibrance of

birdsong and breezes

convened by a

mountain-slope summer

its classical tendencies

worn by this woodland

through histories

brought to this moment

of private audition

Apollo presents

for my pleasure alone

Oratorio

“Nature’s Harmony” by Mark Keathley

gather the feathery choir
their natural loft high upon
branches and limbs
maple oak and pine risers
adorned with new leafing
so many spring voices
wear robes in a broad blaze
of colors both vivid and subtle
soprano and mezzo
contralto and bass
here and there a uniquely blessed
coloratura with infinite range
braces up with a leggiero tenor
to nestle dramatically into their
timbre and sweet tessitura

conductor it’s time
cue the orchestra
call down the rain pianissimo
kissing the canopy softly
with delicate notes slow to rise
in crescendo to augment
the metronome tympani
ringing of rocks struck by
snowmelt in rhythm of rush
between banks of the stream
time to raise the baton
hold the woodland winds ready
to susurrate counterpoint
season-scored music of trees
let the concert begin

Healing

“Mountain Rain” by Tracy Felix

quivers of wind
scudding clouds
treetops sway
fingers scratch
at grayed skies
blue jay hens
implore mates
return to the nest
squirrels scurry
frenetic to find
secure purchase
the white tail
make speed to
their hollows
the stone walls
alive with alarm
among chittering
chipmunks as I
stand erect in
my pain on a rise
outstretched arms
upturned face my
whole being set
begging to feel
sublime healing
of glorious rain

 

 

From my book Onionskin

Coyote

 

“Moon Talk” by Marion Rose

 

 

how he does love to howl

asserting his dominance

jaunty tweed wolf of

these New England woods

picaresque in his conduct

a thief in the henhouse

a scamp among cousins

he stands his ground

staunch against cougar or bear

and old country poets alike

he’s a family man

faithful monogamous

winter the season

of courtship and denning

belonging to him and his mate

fulvous fur paints him loudly

against the bright snow

easy target for hunters

his eyes show no fear as he

watches them watching him

I have no taste for such sport

after all he is everything

I always wanted to be

 

 

From my books Onionskin and Legacies (vol. 2)

Winter Woods

 

“Sunset in a Winter Wood” by Trudi Doyle

 

 

a quiet cathedral

walk in worship

along serene

snow-padded paths

among reverent

supplicant pines

breathe of rich

earthen incense

share gentle prayer

with its peaceable

creatures the wolf

and the moose

in their genuflect

moments raise

eyes to esteem

a cerulean sky

through the lean

latticed fingers

of white birch and

sycamore hear of

soft whispering

psalms on the

baldachin breeze

as it ruffles the

canopy cloth this

is heaven on earth

to be sure and

whatever one’s faith

it can’t fail to

instill veneration

 

 

From my book Onionskin

Near to Home

“Snowing in the Woods”
Painting by Natalie Holland
From fineartamerica.com

heaven exists near to home
in this season of silence
a snow settled wood
holy ground
hushed and greenless
my open air chapel
white altarcloth
laid for communion of creatures
crisp air charged with prayer
hoof and paw
fur and feather
my congregant fellowship
take benediction of snowflakes

unseen aspergillum
dispensing white whispers
each whisper
containing an answer
each answer
containing a blessing
each blessing
containing a chance
to experience grace
all it takes is a heart
humble willing and open
inspired to a reverence for life
here and now near to home

Dishabille

“Woodland in Snow”
Inked Etching by A La Poupee
From etsy.com

deep winter woods
undressed of their finery
take stock of their wounds
confront their imperfections
far from prurient eyes