if

If I have not walked in nature,
Once a day,
If I have not heard a bird sing,
If I have not crouched before a blade of grass,

If I haven’t prayed in front of an old tree
Covered with climbing ivy,
If I have not seen a tiny insect fly
without fear of the hour,
If I have not seen a field sparsely covered with ancient wheat,

If I haven’t shivered in front of a red-throated
curious about my presence,
If I have not regretted his absence for long seconds,
If I have not laid eyes on leaves
or stones without destiny,

If I have not walked in nature
once a day
If I have not seen the Ajonc in winter
and the poppy in summer, modestly red bright,
If I have not been dazzled by the flamboyance
of a mimosa,

If I have not looked up to the poets
and clouds of the sky,
If I have not left the neighborhood tired of everything, and posed
1000 questions to nature,
I’m losing my mind, I’m going crazy like a cockroach.
Men do that too often.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2025



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Date: 2/18/2025 5:32:00 PM
Back again on this one. It's so pretty
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Date: 1/17/2025 10:34:00 AM
A wonderful poem about nature Yann with its beauty and healing power! Lovely…..Debx
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Yann Rolland
Date: 1/17/2025 3:50:00 PM
thanks deb, for the supportive words, best wishes
Date: 1/16/2025 8:50:00 AM
Creative one for sure. I enjoyed reading. It reminds me of a famous poem, but I can't pull it up in my old computer right this minute. Thanks for sharing. Sara K
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Yann Rolland
Date: 1/17/2025 3:49:00 PM
thanks sara so much, ooopss i am late to respond, curious about the famous poem
Date: 1/11/2025 8:40:00 PM
Your marvelous poem well conveys the value of spending time in the serene beauty of nature,Yann. The fact that nature is calming and peaceful, can not be denied. :)
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Yann Rolland
Date: 1/12/2025 12:09:00 AM
thanks evelyn, for the kind words, i admit nature helps me to live as i can have a nice sunday
Date: 1/11/2025 3:46:00 PM
Wow - your poetry is so fine. I loved your proseful questions...it was beautifully abstract.
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Yann Rolland
Date: 1/12/2025 12:07:00 AM
thanks Paige, enjoyed your supportive comment, have a nice sunday
Date: 1/11/2025 9:03:00 AM
I like the idea of what you are saying. But doing all this daily would drive me crazy, Yann!
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Yann Rolland
Date: 1/12/2025 12:04:00 AM
thanks a lot andrea, i can reasure you, i am not crazy, until now, you made me smile a lot, thanks you so much
Date: 1/11/2025 7:53:00 AM
Its so lyrical and melodious how youv written this descriptive poem in such a seamless manner! Love the imagery and how youv started each line with “ if” and ended the poem too! Excellent and exquisite as always! Love the ending! So grateful for all the little things in nature that inspire and uplift us, and this poem reminds me of that. The last stanza hits deep! Pleasure reading this! Sending you light always
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Yann Rolland
Date: 1/12/2025 12:05:00 AM
thank you so much IE, your comment touched me, have a nice sunday
Date: 1/10/2025 2:01:00 AM
- So grateful that we can experience all of this, Yann - If not... life would be black/white... and very boring... enjoy :) - hugs
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Yann Rolland
Date: 1/11/2025 12:57:00 AM
thank you so much anne lise for the enlightening comment, have v a nice week end
Date: 1/9/2025 8:21:00 PM
It is wonderful to notice nature and have nature notice you. I have been drawn to particular leaves. The first one was in a park where part of the civil war took place. Amidst all the brown leaves, only one red leaf. Hugs and Happy New Year, my dear friend Yann!
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Yann Rolland
Date: 1/9/2025 11:59:00 PM
thanks kim, enjoyed your supportive and delicious comment bonne année poètesse
Date: 1/8/2025 1:18:00 PM
this is indeed very beautiful, yann! i especially love "looking up to the poets and clouds of the sky" - you have such a magical way of expressing yourself...
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Yann Rolland
Date: 1/10/2025 12:00:00 AM
thanks ilene, for the nice compliment, enjoyed your poem too
Date: 1/8/2025 5:44:00 AM
Reflecting a profound sense of existential restlessness and yearning for meaning A very nice poem with beautiful metaphors.
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Yann Rolland
Date: 1/10/2025 12:01:00 AM
thanks a lot akham, for the nice comment,take care
Date: 1/8/2025 4:44:00 AM
lol yes men do that too often, forget nature and look only at a screen all day, Dam we need more poets in this world dear poet, love and prayers that is what we need, and good poetry too ! Thanks Yann :)
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Yann Rolland
Date: 1/10/2025 12:02:00 AM
thanks Rose, a very precious comment, that i read twice, thanks alot meilleurs voeux
Date: 1/8/2025 3:41:00 AM
I have visited Paris three times. It is a bit expensive, but it is a beautiful city. I regret that I never visited the chateaux. Your poem reminded me of the beauty that is found in nature. Loved it.
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Yann Rolland
Date: 1/10/2025 12:04:00 AM
thanks victor, i coudlnt live in Paris, i don't live there anyway, i prefer nature, i can breathe every day, thanks for your delicious comment meilleurs voeux
Date: 1/7/2025 11:12:00 PM
Watch nature.... be in close proximity with the natural world. Observe flowers and trees, watch birds and trees. If one turns his back on nature, he lives in vain. A beautiful poem, dear Yaan
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Yann Rolland
Date: 1/10/2025 12:05:00 AM
thanks valsa, you read my mind, what you write is so true meilleurs voeux
Date: 1/7/2025 8:50:00 PM
Beautiful poetry indeed
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Yann Rolland
Date: 1/10/2025 12:06:00 AM
thanks Arthur ( like Rimbaud, smiles) meilleurs voeux
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