THE EDGE

Creeping under this spreading canopy,

above these gloomful boles of Beech

Poplar, and Pine, just after dark… or,

better said, just after light, the shadows

begin to lean in and whisper in brown

tones the echo and scent of Earth, dirt,

worms, and the sounds of everything

living within twenty feet of my feet in

this gloaming glow. Tiny sparks of life

with their perfect knees shuffle underfoot;

moths in moonlight, the bits of fungi

in the spongy loam, all alive with desire.

Listen to the chorus of smooth basses

and baritones almost audible, whistles,

creaks, cracks and chirps so my gut

quivers and something eternal breaks free

of my worn self, pours out and floats into

the near distance. I am infeebled, unable

to be quiet, or calm enough to belong

here, inside my clumsy self, waiting

for God knows what rough beast?

Reviews

[Lorry]

And we in our foolish delusion think that we own the earth! Pah!
Each and every little thing that we only notice if we pay attention to life smaller than us will still be here when us pesky humans are long gone and replaced by something that will make my head go all ouchy if I think about it too long, so I'll just hum a tune until I stop thinking of AI robots gone rogue and doing a terminator on us all..... Oops, me bad. 😊
They would have one advantage over us though Vol... A little bit of oil would clear up those rusting knees and other joints in no time! 😊

[Vol]

Lorry.
I think that has been our mistake since we were no longer hunter-gatherers. We have lost all meaningful connection with the value of life and the miracle it is. From what little I've read of "primitve" cultures they seem to have in common the need to apologize to the food they have slain, and there was more to the death of a person than a hole in the ground. That there were places so special in their uniqueness, they were called sacred.
What a revelation it would be if we learned that technology was a mere tool and not a god to be worshiped.
Vol

[Marvin Thomas Cox-Flynn..]

Vol,

I find this piece of your heart, mind, and vivid imagination profoundly thought provoking, and peacefully contemplative as I sip my coffee this Sun-Worship-Day morning ... Have I a bit more to say that I do hope fits with the program of that which you have written, as well as who I am? ... Hell yes! ... You are a damn fine writer, and only a fool would venture to say otherwise ... As for me, I am a dumbass, but tain't no fool ... though at times I do drool ... Excellent work here, and no joke implied!

Marvin Thomas Cox-Flynn de Graham

[Vol]

Thank you, sir,
I appreciate your encouragement.
Vol

[Patricia]

oh I love this! I can relate to this overwhelming type of silence. I have felt it ever since I was young. It makes for great writing from emotional and confusing thoughts. It has depth and is visually pleasing and I love the word gloaming, it makes me smile even in the context of this write when obviously this is from the depths of your gray matter. excellent write in my humble opinion. :)

[Vol]

Patricia,
In the sense of Romantic Poetry as developed in the early part of the nineteenth century, I am, in fact, a true romantic. But a modern one. There is no other human experience that offers more solace to a troubled heart, soul, mind, than a deep forest devoid of artificial sound, especially in our current times of 24/7 sensory overload. You may already know about "Thin Places." If not, try to google it...
Vol
https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/11/travel/thin-places-where-we-are-jolted-out-of-old-ways-of-seeing-the-world.html

[Chris Shaw]

This is what is was like before our species arrived and how it will be again once we have destroyed ourselves and Mother Nature reclaims what was taken. If you have sight of that already, consider yourself a man of good fortune. Wonderful description of that canopy.

Chris

[Vol]

I LOVE the forest...

[Vol]

Chris,
https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/11/travel/thin-places-where-we-are-jolted-out-of-old-ways-of-seeing-the-world.html
Vol

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Vol .. will take a look

[Relic]

This brings to me the incredible pictures I used to see in a magazine called Arizona. Your descriptions are so well done I can almost feel myself there.

Well done.

[Vol]

Thanks, Relic!