The Woods…they talk to me.

Poetry 31 comments

via Daily Prompt: Solitary

redwood2

I saw the prompt “solitary” and the first thing that came to my mind was the poem “Solitary Reaper” by William Wordsworth. Well like most people, I absolutely love the poem. For all those who have not had an opportunity to read it or would love to read it again, I have shared the poem after my poem for the day.

The poem that I have written took it’s root, yesterday, when my younger sister sent me a picture of her looking at a seemingly never-ending redwood tree. She looked so small and it so tall :).

 

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Photo credit : Sundip Maithani

Off the beaten track, I walk,

With me, my thoughts and none to talk,

Into the woods I head, taking a detour from the street,

Far from the maddening crowds, I hear the  crunch of gravel under my feet,

A quiet, calm – unruffled, undisturbed, I feel blissfully lonely,

Amidst the magnificent red-woods, towering over me; Oh! so majestically.

 

In all their splendor, they solemnly stood, reaching up, up to the sky,

And I so small, gaze enraptured; enamored by the sight was I, I cannot lie,

In solitude I look up, to see the very top, I crane my head,

I cringe my eyes, a few golden rays catch me unaware, instead,

“Rest awhile, you weary soul, rest your aching head on my bark”

“Close your eyes and hear the singing of the thrush and the whistling of the lark”.

 

 

Too tiny in comparison, before them, I stand,

The power to destroy and wreak havoc, in my hand.

My heart with a regret and melancholy fills,

Alas! The things that give man the thrills,

With grief and despair, I ruminate,

The violence, the clamor, the discord and our sorry fate.

 

Insignificant, inconspicuous me- Ah! I see the sign,

Over what will be, I am left to pine…

But they don’t see or feel or hear it,

The ones’ that rule, blind of both sight and wit,

Every war fought, every missile fired, a step closer to the brink, we take,

Melting ice bergs, forest fires, famines, droughts, are not enough to wake,

 

They who sit in towers, too high to see the grounds,

Behind walls so thick, too deaf to the warning sounds.

These trees, they hear me,

My heavy heart, my pain, they see,

“Stand tall”, they say,

“It’s time for a renaissance again to-day”,

 

“Make them hear, many voices in unison”,

” Not alone, but, Together as One”,

“Too short a time, a lot to be done”,

“Too much of a mess, to be undone“,

“To clean by fire or fury is just a pun”,

” ‘Tis the battle of survival that must be won”.

 

P.S. I couldn’t help adding the lines in blue as they have been all over the news. No marks for those who guess who said it to whom 🙂 .

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Copyright ©, 2017. lifeateacher.wordpress.com. All Rights Reserved.

Below is the poem “Solitary Reaper” by William Wordsworth.

the_solitary_reaper

31 comments

  2. I enjoyed the poem very much. Well written and powerful. And the pictures are great. And thank you so much for visiting my blog as well. I’m glad we’ve met and I look forward to your posts! 🙂

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    1. Thank you very much Paul for visiting my blog, reading the poem and sharing your appreciation of the same. I am extremely glad I stumbled upon your blog 😊. Hoping to learn a lot through your amazing posts and your feedback on my posts. I am very happy to be following your blog. 🙂

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    1. Hi Terry. I am glad you got inspired to read poetry through this poem. Thank you for your kind words on my poem as well 😊. The Solitary Reaper and the Daffodils by William Wordsworth’s poems are both really nice. You must read that too.

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  6. So beautiful & sweet, everything flowed very well…By the way, I nominated you for a Mystery Blogger Award! This is in no way obligatory. But I hope you participate. “Mystery Blogger Award” is an award for amazing bloggers with ingenious posts. Their blog not only captivates; it inspires and motivates. They are one of the best out there, and they deserve every recognition they get. This award is also for bloggers who find fun and inspiration in blogging; and they do it with so much love and passion. Okoto Enigma

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  10. Hey solitary reaper reminds me of my school days..class6/7 ,ddon’t remember.

    Such beautiful poem you have carved out of your mind…no dearth of cerebral you have..😀

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Thank you so much Vandana for your appreciation. Missed reading your comments. It’s been so long. I felt the same as you reading the Solitary Reaper again😊

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        1. Glad to know you and your family are feeling much better now. Catching the flu can be exhausting and seems to be the monsoon’s gift to us. Looking forward to reading your posts 🙂

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