'Lost' - A Poem by David Wagoner

 Lost  by David Wagoner





Stand still. The trees ahead and bushes beside you
Are not lost. Wherever you are is called Here,
And you must treat it as a powerful stranger,
Must ask permission to know it and be known.

 

photo by Jan Johnsen (one of my gardens)


 The forest breathes. Listen. It answers,
I have made this place around you.
If you leave it, you may come back again, saying Here.
No two trees are the same to Raven.
No two branches are the same to Wren.



photo by Blondieb


 If what a tree or a bush does is lost on you,
You are surely lost. Stand still. The forest knows
Where you are. You must let it find you.


from Collected Poems 1956-1976 © Indiana University Press











Comments

  1. Jan NolteNovember 11, 2015 at 3:38 PM

    What a lovely lovely poem. It offers a great invitation. Thank you, Jan.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jan JohnsenNovember 11, 2015 at 4:55 PM

      thanks, Jan Nolte! It seems so perfect for right now.

      Delete
  2. UnknownNovember 12, 2015 at 6:03 AM

    And in the silence there is peace.

    ReplyDelete
  3. NotThatKindOfFarmerNovember 13, 2015 at 11:49 AM

    Hello Jan,
    Very beautiful pictures you have posted here,Amazing.!!
    Thanks for sharing them.

    ReplyDelete

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