Walking

walking,
a girl
alone,
I,
tired,
came upon an old tree in the woods
horizontally inclined
its leaves long ago decayed,
all missing,
hollow in the middle,
a hiding place for small creatures,
a worthy seat for me

sitting,
a girl,
alone,
I
looked up at the tall tree beside it
filled with verdant foliage
and the rustle of winged things,
invisible
but for the shaking of leaves,
and
admired,
when
onto my hand
a bare twig dropped

staring,
a girl,
alone,
I
watched it:
delicate creature, but sturdy
strongly jointed legs of six
elegant antennae, two, tickling my palm,
and an elongated body
“what a flawless disguise,”
thought I,
the girl,
alone
with
guest

walking,
the stick,
alone,
it
clung to me,
testing the strangeness of my hand
with slow motions
of graceful body parts
it climbed
calmly
encircling my wrist
like a bracelet
formed,
surprising me with its
limberness
and
capacity to hold on silky skin

lingering,
a girl,
alone,
I
experienced
this alien encounter
with fascination
and
deep respect
until,
sympathetic,
I gently placed it back on the living tree
where
it walked away
unhurriedly,
yet rapidly disappearing,
melding into noble tree

pondering,
a girl
grown,
I,
smiling,
remembered lessons barely whispered
in woodland wonder
under trees,
the tiny things
amazing me,
and,
strangely,
how a fallen stick walking
somehow
remains
a
part
of
me

~

Words and Photography ©2017 Tanya Cliff ~ to contact me

Posted in poetry & free verse. Bookmark the permalink.

41 thoughts on “Walking”

      2. I’m glad! We will do that. Be richly blessed as well, my friend, in all meaningful ways. They aren’t all meaningful…😊

  4. I found your poem thanks to Mr. Militant Negro, and I’m so glad for it! I too love to take solitary walks in the woods. This was beautifully written, and I can’t wait to see what else you have.

    Reply

  8. A delightful poem, Tanya. My morning’s creation was a poem about a tree … different from yours, but with some parallel insights. Your poem took me more than two minutes to read. I went back over some lines, stopped and savored others, and had a great time with it. I love the matching photo, too. Best wishes, Roger.

    Reply

  9. Wonderful stanza, Tanya. I love the different meters you use, a tribute to your overall talent. And I always love the descriptive lines…very good indeed! And, apparently, I’m not alone in my appreciation. You seem to have many who appreciate your work…

    Steve

    Reply

    1. Thank you, Steve! I am really blessed with the people who show up here each week. You, and they, compel me to dig deeply and keep improving. It is something I appreciate more than I have words for. Have a great day, my friend!😊

      Reply

      1. Well, I can’t believe you could improve on what you write, it is most excellent already. You are very welcome for the visits, it is my pleasure to read great material, Tanya! Have a great evening

        🙂

      2. I will do that, Steve! And thank you again! I know I have lots of places I can improve and lots of places to explore. That is a part of what makes it fun.😊

      3. When I used to write more often, (and a bit better than now), I used to feel that fun of exploring something new. But now I am writing in a different way to a vast audience for a very important cause. It is difficult for me nowadays to be effective for a number of reasons. Oh well, I just keep “swinging for the fences!”

        🙂

      5. That is so true. Besides, I write in hopes that I can say something which will connect people with the Lord. It is a work I do for others in the name of Christ Jesus. It is difficult at times, but occasionally there is some interest. I will try to have a nice weekend…thanks so much, my friend! 🙂

Leave a Reply