I left formal
religion to worship nature. I find divinity in all the gifts Mother Nature has
shared with us.
I hug trees.
Maples are my favorite. They have a great eco-rhythm.
I dig my toes
into sun-warmed soil and soak up the Earth’s energy.
I inhale oxygen
and marvel over the science of what makes humans live off something colorless
and without form.
I run my fingers
over flower petals, leaves, stones, caterpillars, loving the unique sensations
each bring.
I spread out in
the grass, the blades cushioning my body, meshing with my hair, absorbing me
into its green.
I am connected to
it all, a giant wheel that constantly turns, grows, changes.
Most of the
poetry I write is about nature. I spend a ton of time outdoors and frequently
find inspiration in what I witness. A tree’s reflection in a pond. A bird’s
flight across the sky. A cricket’s nighttime song. It’s all art and music to
me, and I try my best to capture it with words so I can share the experience
with others.
I took my
students on a poetry walk through the outdoor classroom and nature trail we
built behind our school. We stopped off to observe one of my poems that was put
on a plaque and installed on a regal-looking boulder back there.
Cold Faith
Winter winds
howl their chorus
over frosted lands.
Leafless trees
heavy with snow
dream of budding.
For now,
they wait
as ice imprisons them.
Glassy branches
reach to the gray sky
in silent prayer.
Searching for
inspiration, students brought notebooks and wrote down observations. They sat
quietly and listened. They got on their hands and knees in the leaves and
became part of the woods.
We don’t do that
enough. Become part of the outdoors. The health benefits are many. The chances
of finding your Muse are abundant as well.
Connecting with a
high power in nature is a guarantee.
Students came
back into the classroom and composed poems that rocked. Full of imagery and
figurative language, they wrote as if fueled by an eternal flame. I hope they
always remember that nature is there for them, just waiting to be explored,
waiting to help.
Waiting to
embrace.
Where will you
walk today? What will you find?
Toodles,
Chris
The Maple Leaf
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9 comments:
Oh yeah, Chris. Great post. I would love to have been one of your students. Walking is one of my passions. Each mile bring something new to discover in Nature.
Great post. Our kids spend too much time indoors. Being outside fuels the imagination and so many lack that gift. I used to say to my grandkids when they were younger, "Imagine riding a beam of light. Where would you like to go?" They looked at me as if I'd lost my mind.
Lovely sentiments, Chris. Thanks for giving me a carpe diem moment today when I've been scrambling for time. Love nature and cherish the good in people...now that's spiritual. You are pied pipering a good thing with these kids...and I think your poetry is stunning.
My kids would have loved having you as their teacher! I walk in the woods every day. Right now it's slogging through rotten snow in places trying not to punch through then wading through streams of melting snow. Not ideal conditions, but it will be in another week or so. I'm seeing little green tips on the bushes and the first snow plants pushing up through the dirt. Spring is coming!
Chris, I often think if we had learned from Native Americans and their relation to Earth and Nature, the world would have been a better place. Loved your post and poem, thanks for sharing.
Lovely post and poetry, Chris! I would have loved being your student!
I don't get out in nature as often as I'd like, but I too marvel over the complexity of each living thing while looking so simple at the same time. My favorite place to just soak up inspiration is the beach. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the positive sentiments, folks. Today, I had one of my students exclaim, "I never knew I could write poetry!" That just melted me on the spot! A true breakthrough! She even sent me additional poems over the weekend!
A.D., completely agree with the learning from Native Americans and the status of the world!
Keep walking, ladies! :)
Beautiful post. Glad I went back to read it!
Lovely post, Chris. I love working in my flower garden. Or I did until bad knees and back prevent me from doing so. Maybe I should get back to it. I don't have to kneel. Sitting will do just fine.
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