Stand of Oregon old growth.
Oregon Lakeshore Trail #656, at Inlet Creek.
drum the root chambers
of the old growth
each step
cushioned by centuries of needle-drop
deep in this ancient forest
enjoying the rise and fall
twist and turn of the trail
I’ve ringed a portion
of the cerulean mountain lake
my crooked walking stick
smooth in my right hand
rounding a bend in the trail
brushing through waist-high fern
dappled emerald in scattered sunlight
I crest a knoll
by the restless azure brook
and stop
mesmerized
as before
I have reached my wonderland
filtered by the towering woodland canopy
light drifts down dreamlike
settles golden
into the natural cathedral before me
were it a manmade cathedral
or a grande ballroom
truly gorgeous
might describe it
but this is so much more
breathtaking
falls short
even magnificent
feels wanting
a cool lake breeze
enfolds me
filled with the heady scent
of the living earth
cascade red cedar
douglas fir
ponderosa pine
moss
fern
bark
loam
wildflower
ionized mountain air
intoxicated
I grow very still
listening
breathing
I become this moment
rapt
in touch with my soul
with the eternal
I’m transcendent
this is — paradise
Mt Hood seen from Oregon Lakeshore Trail #656 just before old growth stand.
This is the natural gateway on Trail #656 opening on the old growth stand.
Both well over 200 feet tall, and hundreds of years old.
1/2 mile ahead you leave the path, wandering into the heart of the giants!
mighty sentinels
guardians of the old growth
may ever you stand
rob kistner © 2020
First 2 of my 3 words are imbedded, in order, in poem. 3rd word: swanky
CLICK HERE
As I read through your poem, peace and wonder rose within. The quiet, with the scents of the living loam, and how you felt there, it seemed like you were the equivalent of an oxygen molecule. Hoping that doesn’t sound too far out, but it’s like the scene absorbed you into it. Magical writing, Rob.
Thank you, and no Lisa, not too far out at all. You have captured a wonderful perspective on how that particular place on earth makes me feel. It’s magical indeed. 🙂
Yes, the majesty of nature is often better than “ultra-swanky.” Haha!
I cringed a bit when I wrote that RW, but its the 3rd word in my “What3Words” location — so I had yo find a way… Read the piece again, replace swanky with beautiful… 😉
Rob, this is incredible. You hooked me from here:
“my footfalls
drum the root chambers
of the old growth”
Such powerful imagery, I was immersed in it from the very start. Wow. I just love the images I’m getting from this poem: someone connected with nature finding their own way and path, and once crossing it, they find serenity and their own paradise. How meaningful that is and it resonates deeply. We all want to find that paradise that can be hidden from us. It takes time to find it, but with patience, it may be found eventually. Just some thoughts here I had on this amazing poem. Excellent work, as always. This poem was especially breathtaking.
I am so pleased this moved you Lucy. If you use the three italicized words in the poem, in the order they appear, with the “What3Words” app that Sarah wrote about in this prompt, you will see exactly where my personal wilderness eden is in this big beautiful world. It wrapped me in a spiritual connection, that I don’t fully understand, the very first time I set foot there in 1990. The infinity of time and space, the eternal now, the essence of allness, rushed in to fill me to bursting — and in bursting, I expanded outward into the universe. I have no way to fully explain or understand it, but I am so so very thankful for that moment. It is imprinted on my soul, and I will very likely never set foot there again — because of failing health. But I have been there, multiple times — for that I am thankful. I am not a religious man because I think religions are so segregating, exclusionary, and limited. But I embrace deep meditation, the connection with the ever flowing life force. This place gives me that connection intensely. It is where I took my grief, over the death of my 18-year-old son Aaron, and there began that healing. I have asked my other son Justin, who has been with me on my trek to this wonderful place, to please go with my daughter Jennifer, and discretely sprinkle a significant portion of my ashes there. He has promised me he will. Any way, I’ve rambled Lucy, but thank you for your excrptionally kind words.
You took me with you on this walk, Rob – I was mesmerised from the outset. I have such special places too: where reason breaks down and there is only what is. I am pleased you have found it a place of healing and sorry you struggle to get there now. It seems you are able to go there in your mind whenever you like, at least!
Thank you Ingrid. Yes, my place is imprinted on my soul, so I truly go there frequently. Time and space are all relative. My memory time travels..
You describe the indescribable with such ease, Rob, because you know it so well. The use of sound in the opening stanza is wonderful, the footfalls that ‘drum the root chambers of the old growth’ and the cushion of needle-drop. I took that walk with you, even felt the walking stick, and gasped at the light ‘filtered by the towering woodland canopy’ of the natural cathedral.
Thank you Kim… 🙂 it’s emblazoned on my soul, imprinted in my being.
From past posts, Rob, I know full well what this Oregon paradise means to you. While you can no longer go there, it is such a gift your memory holds it with crystal clarity and you can mentally visit it again and again. God bless!
It meant so much to me Bev, in so many wonderful and strange ways, that I will, can never forget anything about it. The look, the smell, the feel of the path and environment, the sound, the feeling in my heart — all fully and forever imprinted on me. Thank heavens it was spared in the recdnt horrible forest fires coveting the West Coast.
This is so beautiful, Rob. I found myself holding my breath as I read, and then letting out a massive sigh at the end. You layer beauty on beauty, as a landscape is naturally layered.
I’m just going to mention that one of the forest poets got magazine and dentistry as 2 of her words – might make you feel better…
Thank you Sarah, very much… 🙂 Once I figured out how the “What3Words” app worked, I loved it? Such a brilliant way to pinpoint a location for someone. Thank you for bringing this to our attention. I, for one, knew nothing about it.
Wow, double wow–this one satisfies my vagabond spirit as well. I have such a place held within too, a 15 mile hike up a creek to a glacial lake at the foot of Mt. Stewart in the Cascades, between Cle Elum and Wenatchee. Your eloquence is itself a tribute to the place and your relationship to it. I hear Walt Whitman and Robert Frost, and I imagine Ansel Adams images. An astonishing write.
Thank you Glenn, so much! I really needed my spirits lifted today, and your graciously enthusiastic words most certainly helped a lot, and were greatly appreciated brother. 🙂 I love this place, as I am certain you love yours. When one finds the place of perfect earth harmonic for them — it is, I believe, a spiritual bonding, to a place of personal healing. I only wish there was a way I could go back, just one mote time, before I permanently disembark from spaceship earth.
Oh yes.. this sounds like a perfect paradise… really love the way you describe the walk there… (but you were pulling my leg by bringing me to New York City Hall)
Thank you Bjorn. No, no leg pulling. If you take my three words in the order they appear coming down, 2 in the poem, and 1 below, and plug them into the “what3words” app, it will take you directly to my personal eden, as I describe herein. If you make the trek, starting off to the west from the wooden boat dock, you will enjoy a walking experience as I gave described.
https://what3words.com/ringed.reached.swanky here … yes I could even take a virtual walk there. Great boardwalk
That’s marvelous Bjorn you found the place you should go to the place if there’s ever a time in your life when you’re able to deliver forget it never forget it it’s my little personal email which I’m very happy to happy to share. Really looking forward to next Thursday’s live open mic night that was really great fun the last time. It’s a really wonderful way to get to know the others in the group might be nice to just do one hour to three hours in the afternoon at one do you do an extended one let everybody get in and talk and discuss and make a little bit less formal but everybody should get a chance anyhow looking forward to it thanks for doing this yarn appreciate it OK
I echo the sentiments expressed above, Rob. This poem has a wow factor! I loved every word 🙂
Thank you very much Sanaa, I appreciate your gracious compliment.
A stunning write of your experience of paradise, Rob…worship in God’s outdoor cathedral!
Thank you Lynn… 🙂
Transcendent indeed, Rob. I love my morning walks in nature, but I don’t have anything like this. What a beautiful place, and I think you bring everyone who reads this along with you on this journey!
Thank you Merril, all are invited… 😉
You had me there with you, Rob.
So very glad Ken this place is amazing you go there once and you are addicted it’s just a situation where everything comes together in spirit is beautiful it’s energetic if it’s creative it’s intoxicating I love it what was that used to see down in Sedona Arizona and they were the heck was where the used any help certain places on earth well this is one of those places we ever get a chance use my three words you’ll see right where it is I invite you to visit thanks for your kind wordsThanks for your kind words.
Thanks for posting this on OLN too. Many folks show up here but not for regular prompts. This poem needs to be read, amen.
Thank you brother for being so kind all the time I appreciate you running and I am very very glad that you appreciate mine and I love this place that I’m writing about a refined poem a little more and other another photo to show the two giants in to create the gateway in the office for us give me the old growth forest and then add a little haiku something simple for fun but I think everybody should experience in place once I really think if everyone works to experience this place I think the world of the better place it’s just me anyhow love you brother!
I want to go to there.
Not that your work doesn’t ALMOST actually transport me, Rob, but still…I want to go to THERE.
Ron Ron you’ve got to go, only wish I could go with you I am having such health issues I can’t get that deep in to the old growth anymore and it breaks my heart. But I’m telling you take a look at that picture that shows this to giant old grout the Giants those are the gateway the natural gateway beyond that is the mess amazing on Gravois you’ve ever seen the shop not just the force is boulders by the Lake that’s there and it’s just just gorgeous it raises. To the moon you should go Ron Ron you’ve got to go, only wish I could go with you I am having such health issues I can’t get that deep in to the old growth anymore and it breaks my heart. But I’m telling you take a look at that picture that shows this to giant old grout the Giants those are the gateway the natural gateway beyond that is the mess amazing on Gravois you’ve ever seen the shop not just the force is boulders by the Lake that’s there and it’s just just gorgeous it raises. To the moon you should go. You should really go Ron seriously.
Beyond words, and yet yours capture so much.
Thank you kerfe if it is far beyond words. There may be many who don’t understand it but if you’ve ever had an expansion experience an encounter with a place on earth that is so in tune so beautiful it’s your touchdown the life amazing. Never happened before and this had not happened since. It is my touchstone.
I love the trail to the deep ancient forest. How beautiful, calm and soothing this was, a paradise.
Grace my words do not do it justice it is so powerful it’s the energy of the living earth of the forest of the old grass it’s beyond words it’s it’s transcend it truly is invite you sometime I don’t know how practical it is that you love it there. I love it there!
I become this moment
rapt in touch with my soul
with the eternal
Love your writing, here, Rob. It would be akin to reaching Nirvana, it is certainly Paradise!
Hank
It’s much luck reaching Nirvana it’s a very spiritual very involving release appreciation transcendent guess it’s as close to water on my car God or a God experience spectacular invite you to Triad sometimes like I’ll likely never get to do it again health won’t let me but I got the memories sustain me.
A wonderful poem with gorgeous photos that tell it all! What a fabulous place to visit! Well done Rob.
I certainly invite you to visit Dwight you would not be disappointed however my age and my health the things I’m dealing with I’ll never be back there in my heart certainly would physically I doubt it it would require some sort of a vehicle and they don’t have vehicles are deep in to with all grow this but if you play my three word game it’ll show you exactly where it is within a 10 ft.² I’m telling you it’s fabulous that is my Paradise and I love it you should come visit sometime seriously!
Lovely write Rob, you’ve managed to convey the place and some of the mystery and wonder you felt. Took me there. (Your photos?).
Hank you peter. They Are of my paradise created by friends. IUsed to do a lot of photography with your 380s you arthritis in my hands makes it very difficult breaks my heart but I did take you on a visual trip because his pictures are the correct pictures for the area hope you enjoyed yo Peter.
Oh I could feel the channeling of nature guiding you to describe the “indescribable” so brilliantly. Thanks for sharing the stunning views along the way and your genuine appreciation for the earth.
I love the Pacific Northwest mish The power of nature around here is unlike any place else in the United States see you for maybe the Grand Canyon with the Sedona red rock Sedona but you take the Pacific Ocean off of Oregon and the incredible old growth could find the cascade Mountains and the beautiful mountain lights and take the Columbia Columbia Gorge high desert Cascades the mountain riversThis is paradise and I love it.
Rob,
Your words took me on a walk through an Oregon forest. I have been on many trails and your photos capture the natural beauty. How grateful I am to live in this beautiful state. Thank you for reminding me of the healing power that forest provide. I will be sharing your poem with others.
Keep breathing in the strength of those standing tall and strong on both sides of the trail.
Ali
Please share, yes Ali! I wish my health allowed to still wander into the magic of Oregon old growth — now only in my memories, but it’s still magic… 🙂
beautiful poem, Rob, captures wonder!
JIM
Thank you Jim… 🙂
You transport me with your carefully chosen words to your ancient forest. Long may they stand.
Their longevity depends on the human factor oh this earth. Given the evidence….?
Glad you could join me Georgina… 🙂