Best Woodland Poems
Daffodil majorettes lead the spring parade
Mom fox had lured out a reluctant kit
Verdant grasses are growing lovely shade
For dainty dulcet purple violet
Gentle nurturing rain from day or two
Coaxes her lace lilac to gently wake
Meadow rainbow chiffon a lovely hue.
Faerie-felt awe surrounds beautiful lake.
Carpet of tulips arrive on the scene.
Growth can be felt every hour or two.
Resurrection of weeds, not being mean.
Cyclical magic for me and for you.
The woodlands, the meadow, the lake and the dale.
Rebirth of spring yearly, without fail.
Written Feb 24, 2019
Contest: Springtime Rebirth
Sponsor: John Hamilton
Spring heralds the dawning of brilliant bluebells carpeting the woods
Silently they slept until the warm sun rouses them from slumber
Gently they open their eyes, stretch and bask in nature’s glory
01~29~15
Contest Glorious Sijo Fields – Andrea Dietrich
How Many Syllables - Count 16, 16, 15 – total 47
~awarded 5th place~
Fae circles of mushrooms
Lanky yellow toadstools
Firm jelly tot larvae
Feed from rich stagnant pools.
Fungal disks cling with wanton
To the grey trunks of trees
Cricket strums join to bird song
Sending messages of peace.
Lambent beams break through foliage
Gradient tones tint the scene
Yellow, purple, and whites
showcased by backgrounds of green.
Fractured rock nests bright flora
Compost mats engage moss
A place of breach and survival.
Nature's gain, (one might say)
is the product of loss.
A woodland path in the dappled sun- hushed and quiet
where I come free my breast and silently ponder.
I gaze upon a spiritual calm and listen to its quiet song
releasing tranquility of mind that does wander.
Between branches of towering mixture of spindly trees
encased in morning sunlight smoky haze;
I hear the rustle of hanging leaves falling gently as a sigh,
conceding tired mellow heart to praise.
In far distance echoes soft cries of lonesome blue jay,
quickly taunting squirrel gives harassing reply.
In shadows of bushy foliage, sunlight fails to cast
hides ground creatures that have come to spy.
A cool soothing breeze sweetly lulls an inward peace
capturing solitude within fractured soul.
Suddenly troubled trapped mind feels timely at ease
when moment seized a woodland stroll.
Copyright © 2011 By Caryl S. Muzzey
6/6/2011
Third Place Winner ~ "A Woodland Path” Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Constance La France
July 6, 2011
Deeper still the Woodland calls me
Further yet, she lures, enthralls me
Hapless I, with charms she hauls me
To her unknown hinterlands.
Up, I see the forest giants
Standing tall in self-reliance
Ancient, gnarled, in defiance
Weathering the winter's hands.
Down, I see leaves, fallen, floating
To which place, they are unknowing
In the streamlet's eddies flowing
Dancing to an ageless tune.
Further on, I gaze in wonder
As a river falls in thunder
Misting torrents cascade under
Slanting rays of afternoon.
Scattered rocks are graced with flowers
Breathing in perennial showers
On the brink of Nature's towers
Far above the bustling towns.
Never could an earthly City
Paint a picture half so pretty
Not could sing such lovely ditty
As the Woodland's captive sounds.
In my ear they whisper softly
Whistling bird and peaks so lofty
"Whither went, and for what sought ye
When ye left this tangled space?
For ye find here scenes of splendour
Vistas grande in awesome grandeur
Rugged views they be, or tender
Never could ye leave this place"
For to me she is appealing
I and she, both glances stealing
Lost in unknown depths of feeling
As I see her changing face.
Far from wild clamour ringing
I can hear the crickets singing
See the points of starlight gleaming.
Never would I leave this place.
At the fold of day
a veil shrouds the hills
as rising fog drifts
over tapering fields.
Rain falls softly,
dimpling the river.
It’s sombre waters swaggering
beneath a narrow bridge.
Rambling oak trees line
the steep grassy banks.
Ferns furl
their long slender fingers
into tight fists.
They recoil
into rooted mouldy stone.
Moss carpets the woodland,
the earthy air, damp
as dusk slinks in.
A murder of crows
sweep the sky
smothering the light.
Squabbling
they swoop to roost
on tall tree tops.
Settling,
a rustling murmur
whispers softly, sweetly.
They sleep
under a saffron moon.
silenced
by a blackening night.
Wind drifts along a river lined with trees
and dances further inland among dew-kissed leaves
in the woods to which I have been led
while meandering off the beach’s trail.
I stand now in a clearing
wanting to dance to the wind’s whisperings
as in the silken twilight, the sun sinks low.
Beneath a cobalt sky now crimson spun,
I twirl and twirl
until the scarlet of the sky starts to recede.
Tall silhouttes surround me.
They are the patterns emerging
as shadows weave the light that lingers
among the woodland’s sheltering trees,
whose limbs are long green arms
reaching up to glorify the God
whose hand now dims the sun.
I see cerise and hear it flutter!
Two cardinals emerge
as the fluttering I heard.
Forest creatues murmur from near
and from afar.
It’s time to quickly head for home.
I watch the red birds glide
into the eventide.
May 10, 2021
For the Nature Poetry Contest of Regina McIntosh
I sing the songs of the aspens and the oaks
They sing to me harmonies and lovely verses
Accompanied by the breezes’ instrumentation
They teach me while the forest choir rehearses.
The taller pines express fervent gratification
That Mother Nature has given them height
So that they may see horizons far and near
Much to their swaying imagination’s delight.
Generous maples the value of seasonal giving,
A solitary mahogany the meaning of solitude
Since it is not native to this woodland, you see,
For my notice shows its everlasting gratitude.
I talk to the trees, and they whisper back to me
Teaching me we are exactly where we need to be.
FIRST PLACE WINNER
Written May 15, 2022
submitted to "Wisdom from Trees" Poetry Contest
sponsored by Anoucheka Gangabissoon
"A woodland path in the dappled sun hushed and quiet"
As creamy blue cloud rests on tall tender trees
Peeps of early morning sun still awakes dossing greens
Dull dews are yet to vanish from their sheltering leaves
Silences of monastery still arrest woodland paradise
The songbirds are yet to reveal songs schedule of the day
The echoing breath of nature
Still nurture patient under slumber's custody
Only four naked legs print love on woodland moldered leaves
A perfect sanctuary for lucky cupid and Venus
As calming breezy strokes of nature
Lull perfectly braided hairs
Affection breathes rhythm to drumming tongues
Sweeping feelings conquer trembling flesh
As lips gently explore one another
Keen tender arms stroll awaiting avenues
As soft sweet moans arouse jealousy among woodland beings
'I love you' falls from ecstasy driven tongues
A perfect world is created by conjoined spirits
Where comfort nourish mind and soul
It's now evening
As weary sun leisurely walks home
A head still rests on sweeter-than-mattress subtle laps
Author: Joseph Osita
For Constance Rambling poet's contest: "Woodland Path"
11/06/2011
A scarlet tanager sits primly on the rail
Of the new fence erected near the meadow,
He eyes me stroll as I take in every detail
The path to the woodland is rather narrow,
Infrequently used, it is rapidly overgrowing
I am brushing against the yellow yarrow,
As hottest of summer is fast approaching
The meadowland has nary a cooling shadow.
Happily, I note the salt lick has disappeared
I hope its purposes were well-intentioned,
Certainly not as the hunter’s ploy, I feared
In a previous post, I am sure I mentioned.
I feel the coolness of the pleasant breeze
As I approach the edge of the tree line
Where meadow gives way to aspen trees,
And further on, a stand of taller pine.
I shall follow the trail through the wood
To the river which I can faintly hear, ahead
Where I saw a huge buck in full manhood,
And I have seen signs of where he bed.
It is a good two-mile hike, not exhausting
But I stop to examine new growth along
And for moments to reflect, I am pausing,
I’m encouraged by the tanager’s song.
Written June 18, 2022
I Once Walked Scenic Woodland Trails
In the utter darkness of great forested nights,
those sounds call and beckon to me about life;
I am finding again my way into a bushel of lights,
a child, fleeing from this world and its strife.
Years of my youth, I walked scenic woodland trails,
a voyager across ancient and stoic seas;
Nature's beauty reigns supreme, all others fail,
wonders await amongst the tall, majestic trees.
Alas! Dark-winds come to shatter this beauty renown,
where my young feet danced and gladly roamed;
Man's arrogance and stupidity wants to tear it down,
After seeing it before, my heart sadly moaned.
Dare we, cry out for much more enlightened ways,
with greater understanding and loving hearts;
And seek always, for ever brighter forested days,
with this dream fulfilled, it surely restarts.
Robert J. Lindley , 12-02-2015
Note- So busy but my muse demanded I write this today,
this late at night. I need sleep!!
Soft at first, the melody grows louder as I near
The carefree brook skips through the wood
Singing to herself, laughing at her song
Warmed by the sun whose golden fingers
Dance upon the surface, and caress the ripples
She meanders aimlessly, exploring, embracing
I am taken by the silence that surrounds me
No sound save the waters lullaby
Her symphony floating lightly o'er the glen
I bask in the peaceful essence of the moment
Nature, christened in her flowered gown
Applauds the melodic serenade
11/15,2011
As a kid, I loved to find any unusual shells and rocks; I do to this day. I used to walk the piney woods of Georgia, with my favorite uncle. He made up the neatest stories to tell me about each stone or arrowhead that I found; visiting him was always loads of fun. Like him, I’m a story teller, entertaining others. I loved those woods and the great finds there; so many great woodland memories.
piney woods
shed upon sacred ground-
bedding
nature’s trinkets
abound in the woodlands-
arrowheads
4-20-2021
ALL YOURS (Apr 20) Poetry Contest
Brian Strand
My mossy ferns awakened, anticipating something wonderful and new.
They are coming, the violets whispered. Their tiny voices flowing through.
Faerie parades whimsically teaching my woodland creatures
to treat each other kindly,
Sparkly, winged beauties, began prancing across my land bridge,
“animals, keep behind thee’.
Faerie whisper reverent, a tribute to me?
Or the gentle orb of sunlight peeking through the trees?
She is gorgeous today, another holy one marveled, Let us honor our host.
I glistened up my grasses, and vivid violets, hoping to inspire the most.
one of the princesses was riding Orc, my largest brown bear. He was wearing
a flowered lei.
I cannot remember the last time I had felt exuberant in this all-encompassing way.
She is beautiful, a dainty glow faerie sitting on my creek bank murmured in awe.
I feel my woodlands, streams, grasses, even felled oaks, reacting in an ethereal loving way.
Magical mystical madness overcomes me, as streaks of sunlight scatter through
my proud giant oaks, landing on my moss.
Faerie Sanctuary Day Parade, a parade to unite all species of the forest, If I had
not submitted the application, they would have met elsewhere, a giant loss.
Beautiful sound of the birds singing,
The trees and flowers gently dancing and waving.
Plants magically growing from seeds,
Dark coloured bark and green leaves on the trees.
The sun glowing so brightl,
A walk in the forest is such a delight,
Gentle breeze blowing through your hair,
So peaceful, you are glad to be there.
How many years have these trees been around??
Art in the fallen leaves on the ground!!!
Crackling noise when walking, hear the sound,
Many pretty pine cones can be found!!!
A walk in the forest, such a joy to see,
A woodland adventure, come and join me!!!