Peace In The Forest

Gold cherry

By skinner_jennifer

Wed, 02 Sep 2020
  • 4572 reads
18 comments
 

 

Tuesday 1st August 2020.

A walk in Savernake Forest.

 

 

Afternoon pleasures that merge,

wandering along snaking paths

where mystery and reality give

rise to imagined strangeness,

 

we two walked between still trees

silence resonating...hearing impaired,

no trembling leaves caught in breeze;

zephyr rippling away on faraway lake.

 

Forest was serene...windless calm as if

life had deceased, only sun remained

soothed by passing feathery clouds;

rays peered between clothed limbs,

 

along our trail blackberry beetles

were having trouble, so many lay

struggling on their backs in a tizzy;

too many casualties to aid or assist,

 

like drops of ink poured on oil glistening

rainbow jewels, some staggered giddily

similar to town drunk desperate for rest,

a sheltered place off the beaten track.

 

No deer stalked complex network of

undergrowth, tangled brambles twisting

between waves of ferns, various vegetation

all fighting for light in labyrinth of contortion,

 

It was as if we'd stepped into a still life

painting where forest was there, but we

were the only two left, apart from scurry

of those in a hurry to get home like us.

 

 

Pixabay free image.

Certificate U
Poem
Poems
Biography
Nature
Autobiography

Comments

Submitted by airyfairy on

Time seems to stand still in this beautiful evocation of a forest walk - it's our Facebook and Twitter Pick of the Day!  Please do share/retweet if you enjoy it too.  

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

How nice to be able to find peace and tranquillity by walking through a forest off the beaten track and breathe clean and fresh air unsullied by the infectious virus prevalent in urban environments.
We have to be thankful that we can still find comfort in nature.
Enjoyable and skilfully crafted poem, Jenny.

Luigi xx

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Relaxing and observant. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Mark Burrow on

Really well-captured and evocative poem. Where I'm living at the mo actually backs onto this forest -- I'd say you nailed it! 

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Wow! Cherries and Pick of the day. smiley This was just so unexpected. Thank you so much airyfairy. I'm so happy you enjoyed this poem. It was so good to get out in the fresh air and get some excercise.

Many thanks again.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Ah! What a lovely comment Luigi. Like you say it was so good to get out and enjoy the excercise and fresh air. It was such a strange atmosphere, because at one point we never heard a sound, not a bird or any flying insects and the air was so still nothing moved except us and those tiny beetles. It really was like walking through a painting.

Thank you for stopping by to read and hearing your thoughts.

Jenny. xx

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Appreciate you taking the time to read and comment Rhiannon. Glad you found this poem relaxing. I have to say me and my partner are so out of condition, our legs were like led weights by the time we got home, but we are now recovered...thank goodness.

Many thanks.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Mark,

how wonderful to have a forest almost on your doorstep. We don't get out to the forest very often, so it was a real treat. I just couldn't believe how quiet it was for the time of year.

I'm so glad you enjoyed my ramblings and thank you so much for reading and your comment.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

What a beautiful piece Jenny - you have totally sold Savernake Forest to me! Very well deserved cherries - both red and gold!

 

Submitted by hoalarg1 on

Really captured the scene well, like some niftily produced video footage.

I particularly enjoyed verse 3.

 

Submitted by Ed Crane on

I lived about 15 miles from Savernake forest for ten years. We often used to go there for a wander on a weekend and especially in autumn looking for mushrooms. Blewits were abundant as I recall. Lovely flavour, but also popular with the wildlife so they often had chunks missing.

I think you have captured the peaceful atmosphere very well.

A good day out was a walk in Savernake then on to Marlborough for lunch in Polly's Tea Room or a wander up the main street of Hungerford looking at the antique shops and having a drink in The Bear 

Thank you, Jenny

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi insert,

the forest always inspires me to write something from my ramblings there. It was such a nice surprise when we arrived at the car park, because a robin came right up to the car door and perched on a log as we got out, as if it was saying; 'welcome to my world', then it flew off.

I'm over the moon with the cherries and pick of the day, it was a lovely surprise.

Thank you so much for stopping by to read and share your thoughts.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi there Hoalarg 1,

there's something very special about the forest, the peace and quiet that was more present than normal made It feel unreal. Glad you enjoyed verse 3, it did sum up the atmosphere.

Thank you for stopping by to read and comment, much appreciated.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

HI Ed,

you know down the path at the far end of the car park on the way to the big belly oak, they've fenced off a particular area for cows to roam. We didn't see any, but I think that was because the cows are only there during the summer months.

I've never actually stopped to walk around Marlborough, so have no idea whether Polly's Tea Room is still there. To my knowledge I've never been to Hungerford either, might give it a go one day as I do enjoy looking in antique shops.

To know I've captured the peaceful atmosphere for you is really great.

Many thanks for reading and the interesting comment, it's always nice to hear others experiences.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Very lovely poem, Jenny with so many beautiful lines and images. Loved it. Rachel :)

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Glad you enjoyed this poem Rachel, it was one of those days that I found so inspiring.

Thank you for reading and your thoughts.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Hades502 on

Outstanding.yes

GGHades502

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Thank you for stopping by to read Hades502. Glad you liked, appreciate the comment.

Jenny. smiley