untravelling path

Cherry

By Di_Hard

Tue, 26 Feb 2019
  • 3142 reads
14 comments
 

a memory of walking

worn between trees into moss

and fallen leaves. A parting

as through hair, to tame or make

bindable a growing thing

 

shod foot flattened to a skin

and stone scars, ungiving, shape

shared roots we can never change

 

over time the path becomes

muddier, slippery, yet

each day rightness is the same

though thoughts get foot sucking deep

 

light deer tracks make their own way

into far green but people

walk heavily,  we'll get stuck

believing we need new boots

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

Certificate U
Poem

Comments

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

I really like this Di. Have you ever heard of paths of desire? I hadn't until someone told me a few years ago

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Thankyou! I had heard of the idea of desire paths, but did not remember the name. When I Googled it, park makers in Finland came up - they wait till it has snowed, then put paths down where the tracks go :0)

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Stirs thoughts of the lovely feeling of walking on moss etc!

Is this a mix of picturing rambling off the beaten track, and the difficult bits, with also a metaphor for the way of this life with the muddy bits and our heavy-footed walk? Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Thankyou for your kind comment Rhiannon, I'm glad it reminded you of mossy woods. They were new to me till coming here, having grown up in a heathy sort of area and always seem magical. It is so helpful to have your ideas about writing, I really appreciate it!

 

Submitted by HarryC on

I see what you mean about paths.

I like the way you work in the physical idea of a path with that of a life journey.  I often think I need new boots.  But new boots take lots of breaking in, and old ones always feel more comfortable.  Hard to break out of that comfort zone sometimes.

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Thankyou so much for taking the time to read and comment! I'm sorry it has taken so long to reply. For some reason my cat keeps trying to sit on the keyboard, or my head (at the moment) it has been so juggly trying to type the last few days - when I wrote it I had to hold the keyboard in the air almost all the time. I think it might be a protest because the boiler isn't working and she is lobbying for the radiator to come back on :0) I hope the plumber comes this morning! I wonder if she was reading your posts about Tinker and enjoyed them as much as I did?

I put the radiator back on just in case just now and it has stayed on for five minutes and she is on there already, but it has conked out again. She will be sad when it goes cold again

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

This reminds me of when I was walking in the forest with my partner and he decided to take me off the path and go further in to the dense part of the forest, which was a big mistake because it was full of nettles and prickly thorns that seemed to enjoy clinging to me. We also encountered deep mud which wanted to drag me in, it was quite scary. 

I suppose that in life we have to be careful of where we tred too. Your poem made me think.

Thank you for sharing.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Thankyou so much for your interesting comment Jenny. That sounds frightening. I agree, woods can easily be scary. The woods where I go are tiny on a map but still easy to get lost in if you go off the path - there are deep bits with streams in the bottom criss crossing them like some sort of giant's game so just when you think you are going the right way you have to go back. It took me years to figure out the one place to cross back into the main part. On the other hand, it is easy to lose worry and stress there too

How are you? Are you having physiotherapy? Is your hip getting better? I hope you have been enoying this sunshine?

There is a tiny pond in the woods and the other day there was a plop! just as I went past and when I looked for the frog I saw the water was full of frogspawn already!!!

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

This is quality, the first verse is sublime and the metaphors all along the way. Rightness is the same but there is always something trying to suck us in.

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Thankyou for your kind comment Jane, and for saying about rightness - I changed that a few times so really grateful you mentioned it! Reading your deep poems is inspiring to try write about ideas

 

Submitted by Stephen Thom on

Beautiful piece. I think all your work is wonderful

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Thankyou so much Stephen. That is very kind. I have a terrible memory but your writing I don't forget, the images are so clear still from everything of yours I have read

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Good morning Di, thank you for your enquiry about my hip. I'm still in great pain when walking, but I'm going for phsysiotherapy in May. The doctor said it was a strain or a sprain, I can never work out which is which, but I'm fine walking upstairs just have trouble walking down, my hip tends to give way.

But thank you again for your thoughts. 

Jenny.

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

A very descriptive and metaphorical poem, Di. Life can be likened to a arduous walk on an uneven and perilous path but the belief that a new pair of boots will make it easier might be wishful thinking.

Regards, Luigi x