Walking up the hill, passing through the ancient and the new, with grandmother, humble and holy, calling from the pines. And then down again, all filled up with sage and spirit.
Oh, I pine for the walk among crocus and autumn leaves crushed under foot, your poem releases a sage scent and a wick of light to see my path way as I tarried to long and the day grew shorter as I walk slowly home in the night.
The space in the third stanza is so cool! It can read in a philosophical way or a way that places emphasis on the narrator not being a guest among their surroundings but a long-term friend that's being welcomed back.
Wow - a real tour de force this one! Loved every moment. If I'm not reading it wrong, given the title, I imagine this as a walk up from the depths of the underworld, and then once ascending, a dropping down again, to the ground, in touch with the soil and life. Just stunning. The movements between ascending and descending, like the rise and fall of feet dancing in the stream, beating out the rhythm of poetry itself, from the source. So much here to savour. Your recent work has been blowing me away - wind teaching us to sing! I go for a walk up my local mountain every day at the moment - or try to - and this really spoke to me of that as well, reminded me of how when I come back down, I am different. More grounded, and calm. Your poem made me feel this way too. 💜
Now, I am out of words. For real. For you always get the poems, I mean you really get my poems, Dick. Thank you for reading and commenting, for the heartening words and the lovely haikus! 🙏
Katabasis—I've learnt a new word. I love the effort and struggle emphasised in the poem, not just a nice little stroll in the woods. It feels grounded and earthy. There's dirty soil under my fingernails as I type.
All the scents, pine and cyclamen, fragrant white floral wicks lighting memories, make them float some more dear Fotini, I'll wait somewhere half way up a mountain, perhaps the crocus have saffron stamens?
Oh, yes, it had bright orange stamens, a saffron crocus indeed :) After searching online for almost a week I think it was a "Crocus pallasii subsp. pallasii." There are so many species, and all are beautiful!
A private conversation with trees in silence. Love the connection between the walk, the trees and memories with the narrator in the centre. Beautiful!
Thanks, Pilgrim! 🙏
Walking up the hill, passing through the ancient and the new, with grandmother, humble and holy, calling from the pines. And then down again, all filled up with sage and spirit.
I feel good now.
Grounded.
Exactly
Oh, I pine for the walk among crocus and autumn leaves crushed under foot, your poem releases a sage scent and a wick of light to see my path way as I tarried to long and the day grew shorter as I walk slowly home in the night.
Sleep tight, my friend, the wick is going to burn all night long.
You have a ballota warmth on a cool evening.
🙏
Oh, how lovely. I'm taking a deep breath because of this poem.
Smells like pine resin :)
The space in the third stanza is so cool! It can read in a philosophical way or a way that places emphasis on the narrator not being a guest among their surroundings but a long-term friend that's being welcomed back.
Home coming...
you've a gift to lift me and bring me wherever with you, Fotini
I wish I could take you by the hand, my friend. It feels good to have you by my side. 💛
🩵
The imbuing of a voice into this scene so alive, you at the humble holy alter.
💛 💛 💛
Wow - a real tour de force this one! Loved every moment. If I'm not reading it wrong, given the title, I imagine this as a walk up from the depths of the underworld, and then once ascending, a dropping down again, to the ground, in touch with the soil and life. Just stunning. The movements between ascending and descending, like the rise and fall of feet dancing in the stream, beating out the rhythm of poetry itself, from the source. So much here to savour. Your recent work has been blowing me away - wind teaching us to sing! I go for a walk up my local mountain every day at the moment - or try to - and this really spoke to me of that as well, reminded me of how when I come back down, I am different. More grounded, and calm. Your poem made me feel this way too. 💜
.
up and down
the mountain breathes . . .
from its belly
.
Now, I am out of words. For real. For you always get the poems, I mean you really get my poems, Dick. Thank you for reading and commenting, for the heartening words and the lovely haikus! 🙏
Awww, it’s such a pleasure! I feel got by the poems y’know. 💜 Thanks for writing such wonderful words! I always look forward to Thursdays now hehe :-)
Katabasis—I've learnt a new word. I love the effort and struggle emphasised in the poem, not just a nice little stroll in the woods. It feels grounded and earthy. There's dirty soil under my fingernails as I type.
It started as a nice little stroll, but you know, the land had other plans for me that day.
Thank you, Treasa! 🙏
So gorgeous. Forest bathing for me. Thank you.❤️
Thank you so much, Mary! 🙏
Being one with nature... this is beautiful!
Thanks Rod :)
All the scents, pine and cyclamen, fragrant white floral wicks lighting memories, make them float some more dear Fotini, I'll wait somewhere half way up a mountain, perhaps the crocus have saffron stamens?
Beautiful and evocative 💛
Oh, yes, it had bright orange stamens, a saffron crocus indeed :) After searching online for almost a week I think it was a "Crocus pallasii subsp. pallasii." There are so many species, and all are beautiful!
Thank you, my dear Susie! 💛
Oh this is so magical
Thank you so very much, LeeAnn! 🙏
The reverence for nature shines through in this piece so much! :)
🙏 🙏 🙏
Fine rhyme and rhythm. Really enjoyed your beautiful poem. 👏💛
Happy you did :) Thank you! 🙏