The Woods Are Lovely, Dark and Deep

“The woods are lovely, dark and deep, 
but I have promises to keep, 
and miles to go before I sleep” (Robert Frost).

The woods know my secrets
For I open my heart
In this enclosed sanctuary of God
As folded branches draw my eyes
Upward, ever upward
Towards the emerald ceiling
With a skylight
From which streams
The light of heaven
Pure and sweet
On my face

The trees are my counselors
Sacred dispensers
Of the mysteries of God
Sentinels tall and majestic
Guarding my hushed sacred hours
Of contemplation and renewal
The would be silence
Sweetly disturbed 
By the sounds of His creatures 
Filling God’s outdoor sanctuary
With a heavenly hymn of praise

Each trail leads me deeper and deeper
For my heart longs to be
In the Holy of Holies
In the very presence of the Creator
On holy ground
Yes, Yes!
He is here
His presence
Envelopes me

After my communion
The closing benediction of sunlight
Guides me home
The thinning trees whisper 
“Forget us not” stories to me
As I pass them by
Stories of long ago pilgrims
From another time
Yet one with me
The same
Pilgrims in search of sanctuary
A place of solace
A place of tenderness
A place of discovery
Where they come to learn
The miles left to go
Till journey’s end
When they must lie down
In well deserved sleep
Safe under the shadows
Of God’s mighty trees
Resting, resting
Blissful sleep
In the Sanctuary
In HIS sanctuary
In the woods…..

For Caleb’s Smith’s In the Woods Contest
September 10, 2013
Copyright © | Year Posted 2013


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Date: 10/1/2013 8:48:00 PM
Eileen, awesome & beautiful.............. Love.............. SKAT
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Date: 10/1/2013 7:48:00 PM
You did capture it completely!!!!! Awesome win sweetie....congratulations
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Date: 10/1/2013 4:28:00 PM
Eileen, thank you so much for entering my contest. There is somthing very elemental and spiritual about deep woods and you captured it.
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Date: 10/1/2013 12:34:00 AM
this is a very lovely and spiritual one about the woods. VERY good writing. BIG congrats for your win.
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Date: 9/30/2013 12:11:00 PM
A very nice win Eileen,, always~ Linda
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Date: 9/30/2013 12:10:00 PM
Contest Winners: In the Woods. Sponsored by: Caleb Smith. - Congratulations on your wonderful poem in this contest, Eileen. - Pleased to read your poem, well written! - oxox / / Anne-Lise :)
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Date: 9/10/2013 12:58:00 PM
A wonderful setting you established here. Serenity was laced in the ending...awesome job!
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Date: 9/9/2013 10:18:00 PM
WOW!! This is such a tremendous and enlightening write my friend! You have surely enamored me by the splendor of this incredible poem here this evening! What a phenomenal piece Eileen, truly a stupendous poem, Great Work!!
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Eileen Manassian
Date: 9/10/2013 1:19:00 AM
Russell, so good to get a visit from you. I hope you are doing well. Thank you for taking the time to visit and post such kind words. Thinking of you.....
Date: 9/9/2013 7:24:00 PM
What a beautiful description of the trees and peaceful setting of the forest....love it love it.will do well..!!
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Eileen Manassian
Date: 9/10/2013 1:18:00 AM
XOXOXOXOXOXOXO....Love you, Love you...You make me feel great!
Date: 9/9/2013 6:00:00 PM
The woods are my home, I understand them well, your poem does them great honour, you have captured the great beauty with your words. Wonderful, I shan't forget this poem. D.N.Read ;{>
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Eileen Manassian
Date: 9/10/2013 1:17:00 AM
That is great to know, David. It must be so peaceful to live in such a setting, away from the hustle and bustle of this busy world. Thanks for your kind post.
Date: 9/9/2013 5:41:00 PM
I so appreciate the mood of this piece. Reading it I felt calm and in awe. This is a beautiful prayer.
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Richard Lamoureux
Date: 9/10/2013 7:41:00 AM
I am blessed, thanks.
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Eileen Manassian
Date: 9/10/2013 1:16:00 AM
:) I'm glad I could give you entrance into His sanctuary with this write, Richard. God bless
Date: 9/9/2013 5:26:00 PM
Or maybe, 'Whispering grass, don't tell the trees, what the trees don't need to know'. There you go, you get two sevens for this write coz I really likes it. You know me and wood. Take care, Richard
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Eileen Manassian
Date: 9/10/2013 1:16:00 AM
Hmmmmmmmmmm....Yes, I can see that you warm up and are effusive when it comes to wood, Mr Seal...Why thank you for these lovely comments....
Date: 9/9/2013 5:22:00 PM
The old oak tree had stood, a good one thousand years, had seen much of human love and witnessed human tears, until the axe did fall, upon that tree so tall, by gravitation laws, became a set of drawers, standing in my hall. This poem reminds me of that song, 'I talk to the trees but they dont listen to me', lol
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Eileen Manassian
Date: 9/10/2013 1:15:00 AM
My dear Mr Seal...Please...please do post these as a poem...It IS beautiful...I LOVED IT, and I do believe it should see the light of day on its own, and not tagged here to my poem comment. If you don't do it, I will! Does that give you the impetus to MOVE???
Date: 9/9/2013 4:44:00 PM
Beautiful ~ & ~ Deep. I feel safe after reading your poem, when thinking of the deep woods. Good luck in Caleb's contest. Eileen, Astoundingly good. Each line finely crafted with a path guiding with light. leading the reader through the woods of God's mighty Trees... I absolutely love this:-) beautiful & graceful in every way... always with love...LINDA
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Eileen Manassian
Date: 9/10/2013 1:12:00 AM
This post has come from the depths of your heart, Linda, and as such as precious to me. Thank you for reading and posting and bringing me joy. God can be reached everywhere, but there is a special connection to Him that we feel in nature, His handiwork. Glad that you could relate to this. Hugs and lots of love, Eileen
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