Sanctum serene,
exuding exhale of enlivened air,
spicy strains of bay
over bass clef’s
deep earthy richness,
reverberating timpani of thunder
preceding choral shushing
of foliate lips,
soothing sojourner
and tenant...
I am an infant
tugging at shoelaces,
rummaging in things set down,
exploring my own toes
and last week’s Cheerios,
pulling myself up against
fibrous suited legs,
prattling
as if I had something to say;
Prayer circle of living souls
linked gratefully
around ancestor stump;
sharing light, soil, mist, rains,
standing in steadfast stability
against storm, lightning, and blaze;
Conduits between
sun, air and earth,
softly swaying, glory crowned.
Occasionally quiescent enough
to discern snatches of
some vaulting hymn,
tender message or
echo of thought;
then licking Nature’s truths
from grubby fingers,
grimacing at
non-pablum tastes and textures.
Deep-creased smiles of blessing
glow in moted light shafts,
warm with welcome, solace, encouragement.
The hospitality of refuge offered
each wandering understory child,
absently cosseted in comforting cradles,
pillowed on auburn duff
by elders primarily focused elsewhere.
Mine the root-nestled crib
near the nurse-maid tree,
snug for a little life’s moment,
lovingly invited
to drink deep
and listen
to the shuttle songs
of the weaving of life
known to hearts
millennia strong.
Author notes
Sequoia: coastal giant redwoods
timpani: kettledrums
pablum: soft, bland cereal for infants
(forest) duff: partially decomposed organic material
prompt: give beautiful metaphor describing what peace the solitude of nature provides to your inner child
A contest entry
- In Cathedrals of the Forest...A 24hr Theme of Solitude & Grace by Blue Rew.
897 points, ended March 22, 2008, 8 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 14 of 14
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Wowza! This is awesome!!!!
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Thank you, Swan song, for the comment and clappies, and for patiently reading a longer piece!
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Wow!
I understand why this got the Gold! Just lovely! Beautiful lines of imagery. Powerful metaphor. Love the alternate verses between wise old nature and the child of nature. My favorite part (though this is hard to choose) is:
Mine the root-nestled crib
near the nurse-maid tree,
snug for a little life’s moment,
lovingly invited
to drink deep
and listen
A great read.
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Thank you so much, BellaD, for the long-ish read and lovely comment!
I am gratified you saw it as interchange between age-steeped nature and a child, which was what I was trying for. I always feel like an infant in such surroundings!
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oh Diane!!!!
BRAVO!!!
this is excellent beyond words...
congrats on the well deserved gold trophy!
your love of language is always a delight to my heart and soul...how I love to visit your poetry...
this rocks the house to it's foundations...and then some...
Blessings! Tammy
```STANDING OVATION```
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Thank you, Tammy, for your lovely comment! Indecision played a role...I ended up with two pieces based on the prompt, and neither seemed whole. So I put them together and this time, it worked!
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Oh this was really major shock therapy for me. I experienced once again how high and mighty poetry can soar and I am simply awed. I think That the gold here is more than well deserved. Destined I should say. Simply beautiful.
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Thank you, DayDreamMuse, for your lovely and encouraging comment! I am very pleased you enjoyed it
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Bravo! Standing in applause!
Jaw dropping beauty.
Excellent poetry. I am thrilled to see a shiny gold here. So well deserved in this contest and fitting for so much more. Exceptionally well done. Bravo poet! 
~Pamela 
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Thank you so much, Pamela, for your generous and encouraging comment! I have been most fortunate to have been in such places. And I surely felt like the oblivious toddler!
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Wow! I'm sorry, I had trouble reading this, there was this bright golden glow emanating from the screen...
Seriously, this is an incredibly beautiful and profound poem, I am actually speechless. Bravo, and a standing ovation!
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Thank you so much, Mallig! I have a particular love for redwoods. I love their interlocked strength of community and family. I love the nursemaid trees--downed, but still living, they give themselves to nourish and shelter new seedlings. There is a weighty sense of peace in the forest that is a great invitation to thought and reflection, and just listening to the reverberations of times long gone.
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Exquisite portrayal in layered and profound detail!
I love how the images switch from adult to child
and back again. Solitude enlightens us to what will always be inside; our roots in innocence. Your
write is truly captivating both in structure and voice. But the best part is the intimacy displayed.
Blue
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Thank you so much, Blue.
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