via THERE IS FOREVER IN A FOREST
Eric offers the reader a beautiful poem and image. The poem reminds me of how Wendell Berry might write about a forest. Nature, in each of its forms, is infinite, existing forever.
It is interesting how serdentipitous life can be. I read Wendell Berry this morning and emailed about him with a colleague yesterday, specifically his poem The Peace of Wild Things. It is a short poem I turn to when I struggle with things and the world. It reminds me there is beauty in the world that can be our salvation. Instead of being outside Nature, we grow to understand ourselves as embedded and part of Nature.
When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
ivonprefontaine
Teacher as Transformer 
Everyone needs that spot where they can relax away from the cares of the world. My favorite is the banks of Salt Fork Lake nearby where the calmness of the water soothes and refreshes my soul.
I love to encounter wildlife in unexpected places. After I answered your comment yesterday, I went to Facebook and a former student had posted a picture of a fox at their back door. We often think Nature is out there, but we can encounter it in so many ways. I have been within feet of elk, deer, moose, bison, etc. in the most unexpected ways.
Funny you would mention that as I now live in an apartment complex in town and tonight a deer was in the parking lot right beside my car when I started to get out. Very unexpected!
When I see wildlife in the city, it reminds me boundaries are human constructs. They do exist in nature, but wildlife navigate nature differently. We go through things and they find ways through.
A beautiful understanding and wisdom to live by.
Thank you Karen.
I love this Berry poem. Nature keeps me as sane as I can be, considering. Present to magical moments.
Sanity is vastly overrated. Magical moments work so much better.
It is my favourite Wendell Berry poem. I love all his work, but this poem sticks with me.
Same here.
inspirational
life & poetry 🙂
Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
GREAT INSIGHTS!
When life and poetry marry. SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL! ❤️💕❤️💕❤️💕
Thank you Yeka. Life and poetry do marry. What a lovely way to express their relationship.