Black Bog

My descent was gradual, sedge meadows with wondrous pink orchid variations visited by never identified damselflies, my head starting to swim; erasing time, giving way to a dark canopied wetland of black spruce, difficult to traverse, sloping deer trails the safest path to take, avoiding quick-mud holes. These trails are popular in the forest, as signs reveal, death struggle remains, the saddest.
 This is the area I saw the hairless half ape/half wolf like creature block my trail, stopping to look at me deeply, then vanishing like a ghost, without even a ruffle of plants.
 Sometimes a plant, flower or insect calls to me "come closer" so I approach with caution; my hand carved heavy oak staff probing for danger, strong enough to ward off bears and badgers, snakes & insect saboteurs, intent on my demise.
 With compass and topo I chart my course, knowing each time I visit these wild places in the forest off Lake Superior, it could be my last, so I bring back natural, wondrous souvenirs that fill my day-dreams, content once more, cleansed of my sins by Her Majesty, the forests off Gitchi Gumee.


Authors note...never venture into these wild places alone, always be prepared with survival equipment in your pack.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2018


Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Date: 7/24/2018 2:29:00 PM
A true naturalist ... wonderful sagely wisdom, M. Cool, enlightening write. Love and joy always.
Login to Reply
Date: 4/16/2018 8:54:00 AM
Good advice! You are a good story teller Jim.
Login to Reply
Date: 3/8/2018 4:12:00 PM
Awesome Story telling James, enjoyed this.
Login to Reply
Date: 3/1/2018 12:46:00 PM
FABULOUS. I am now waiting for the next instalment.....transported out of room, off page totally immersed in the half twilight darkness of a thoroughly foreign, yet strangely familiar sense of walking these paths before .... with a need to follow a strange creature, knowing it is best to let it run free but the temptation to know more incredibly overwhelming and instinctual. Next chapter required....
Login to Reply
Lovejoy-Burton Avatar
Leanne Lovejoy-Burton
Date: 3/1/2018 12:48:00 PM
Add to my favourites.
Date: 2/20/2018 6:43:00 AM
Now that is an excellent poem James.. hope you are well..
Login to Reply
Date: 2/19/2018 9:20:00 PM
Now that's one hell of an adventure! Felt I was there with you, every mysterious step of the way. Good to be home. I need a beer, and a safe chair. Great read!
Login to Reply
Date: 1/28/2018 1:31:00 PM
Much enjoyed!
Login to Reply
Date: 1/28/2018 11:46:00 AM
Such an adventure this is! Well written James. :)
Login to Reply
Date: 1/28/2018 7:06:00 AM
You take the reader on this forest journey--awesome imagery of scenes on the trail..very well depicted, James.
Login to Reply
Date: 1/27/2018 11:19:00 PM
You're a lucky man...from the forest, you may never return...Nice imagery in your poem...All the best James
Login to Reply
Get a Premium Membership
Get more exposure for your poetry and more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Reflection on the Important Things

Member Area

My Admin
Profile and Settings
Edit My Poems
Edit My Quotes
Edit My Short Stories
Edit My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder

Soup Social

Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us

Member Poems

Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New (All)
Poems - New (PM)
Poems - New by Poet
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread

Member Poets

Poets - Best New
Poets - New
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems Recent
Poets - Top 100 Community
Poets - Top 100 Contest

Famous Poems

Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100

Famous Poets

Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - Most Popular
Famous Poets - Top 100
Famous Poets - Best
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War

Poetry Resources

Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter