Where the Forests Breathe

Brian Turner

Blue River Fellow (2011)

Poetry, Prose

1
Before you enter the old-growth parts of the forest
leave your 21st century ethos behind;
rediscover the spirit you had before urgings to
embrace the ephemeral took over
and perpetual euphoria lurked and laughed,
beckoned round every street corner.

2
Stop a while. Stop wrestling
with all that bruises and batters.
Admit the presence of solace
that’s not asking to be solitary.

Look up and let go. Down
come fluttering showers of leaves
that rustle and shuffle
when the forest breathes.

Now sort your convictions
into what’s heartfelt or hurtful
and leave one behind you: remember
this place in other places.

3
Prayer

Let us intensify and extend
our voyages of Life on Planet Earth

and let us suspend all efforts
to get to Mars. Let us better learn

to care for the stars in the forests
and rivers and seas and lands

on which we, and other species
known and as yet unknown,

gladly depend. Give us and our
descendants empathy, insight,

strength and resolve to do what’s
right for ever and a day, amen.


Continue reading Turner’s “Where the Forests Breathe.“