These things my father taught me in the wood:
Where crossways meet, take first the path that’s steep
And give a smile. Be sure the forest’s good –
It means no harm, though it is dark and deep.
As you walk on, you’ll find a special tree
And recognise its straight and honest bole;
With reverence lay on a hand, and see
That here the greenwood has a living soul.
There’s verdancy on winter’s darkest day
In moss, in weathered stone, in hidden grass;
And in the dancing trees – so wise folk say –
Sea-echoes sing when chilly breezes pass.
He taught simplicity till his days’ end.
I hear him still, and call the wood my friend.
In a list
Comments
1 - 28 of 28
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In moss, in weathered stone woke me up. That is when I got the first (wham!) mental picture. It is my bedtime and I fried me brain in heat greater than body temp. I wonder if my boys will remember the time in the woods as pleasant. Or terror? We got lost sometimes!
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nice
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Thank you.
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beautiful work of nature...and a fine way to remember the wisdom of your father...thank you for sharing this with us
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Glad you liked it, jo-el
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Very lovely.
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Thank you very much
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BEAUTIFUL PIECE>..Sounds like your Dad was a smart man. Everthing in natues lives and to destroy it would be murder. I feel that man will never learn from his mistakes. Good luck
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Thanks, free.
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funny, i also wrote (a long time ago) a sonnet (nothing grand) to my father, feeling it an adequate way of recognizing some of his feats. i loved your words, the love pouring through them, the “lesson” of nature and life you have been taught and which you feel thankful for. and the rhyming string is perfect
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Hi mimi and thanks for dropping by. I am beginning to feel that there is "nothing grand" about sonnets at all. I seem to have become stuck in "sonnet mode" for more than a year. I am very glad you liked this one.
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WONDERFUL
Positively exquisite, great use of imagery. Just a suggestion... your words are fine but perhaps "taught me of the wood" instead? To me 'twould be more poignant. Either way still wonderfully expressive, i loved the lines:
With reverence lay on a hand, and see
That here the greenwood has a living soul.
and then again:
And in the dancing trees – so wise folk say –
Sea-echoes sing when chilly breezes pass.
I, too am not one to give these freely, so : Kudos !
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Thank you for the applause, Peg. "In" is deliberate , but thanks for the suggestion.
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Oh aye,
I was certain it was indeed deliberate, however felt it might fit the meaning of the poem more; however, it is your baby so 'tis your choice. As i said it works just fine either way !!
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This sonnet flows so well and is so easy to read and understand. Love reading this out loud - has such a wonderful message to it. Great rhythm and rhyme and a poem filled with memories.
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Thanks, grannyeri. Both this one and "New Year visitor" were composed in my head during a walk in a wood. I am very glad you liked it.
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Oh my goodness, this poem is so fine!
I am capturing it for The Planet and the world will rejoice with a romp in the woods today!
The last line is so loving... and I thank you very much!
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Bless you, Melodies!
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I can very much relate all this to my own girlhood in the Adirondacks, including the woodsman father, excluding the sea-echos singing. Very nice write; a pleasure to read you as always.
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Thank you ea. This one and New Year Visitor were both composed during a walk in nearby woods.
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Beautiful nostalgia with its ties to nature.
We do not always choose the path that's steep, do we?
"There’s verdancy on winter’s darkest day.
In moss, in weathered stone, in hidden grass"
--Love the optimism here.
Wonderful penning! ♥
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Belle, I was feeling optimistic when I wrote it. Thank you.
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Excellent
Oh, so lovely, ineffably sad and sweet! I loved, absolutely loved it!!!
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Thank you, Michael, your praise means a lot.
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How true, How true, and often we forget our pastoral
friends and their soulful blessings. This sonnet is
so lovely in every way, I can almost feel my tiny
tree in my front yard smiling.
Mairi, I believe you've touched souls with nature
itself.
lapoe.
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Thank you Poe, I conceived this poem during a recent walk in the woods, and I am glad you like it.
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I love it! This poem sends a message that must be heeded in these days of plastic and artificial wares. Once again Mairi, I praise you for your excellent sonnet crafting skills!
Thank you for writing this wonderful sonnet,
-Jordi
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Hello Jordi, glad to have delighted you again. This is a deliberately simple poem, with simple rhymes, because simplicity is its message.
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