This sounds beautiful, we used to know a wonderful place like this, where one could be 'alone with the spirit in the great outside', now you can park a car and pay for it, sigh! But, the memories are still there and often have a healing power. A wonderful poem!
Birgit and Roger

Reminds me of my place, Brazos Bend. Now, I just look out my back window and watch the cat go by.

Ron

The graphic image effectively complements your verses, Peter. Thank you for sharing your gift. Love and peace to you,

Regis

Peter, thank you for taking us along ... I so agree: in nature's tranquillity we find that much needed respite.

Beautifully written.
Gina

Sitting on a stone chair, seeing movement out of the corner of your eye, its wildlife. It may soar above you or step out of the meadow. We don't force it and it shows itself to us. It holds our gaze and in response to our thoughts, we search our memories of how it helped us in the past, why we came back and keep coming back. I live in the deep mountains where I see this everyday and I chart what I see. I can look out my windows from any direction and see nature at anytime of the day which is responsible for my daily productivity. To be the writer I am is connected to this element of environment and it touches on the primal part of my soul and arouses and ancient ember that lets me discover life's mysteries and wonderments. You've drawn on these same connections, Peter, and it is a source of renewal for you. Anyone should run the last fifty yards of this write just to confirm they have been there.

Sage

Peter,

I need one of those places right now...I'm tired. So, so tired.

Keep me in your prayers--Karen, too.

(((HUGS))) and love, Karla.

Thank you...enjoyed this very much!!

T be one with nature...theee best medicine!!

love Tinka

Thank you for taking me on this wonderful nature experience. Great write.

with the images you paint it's like i'm there in your tranquil place. it's so true how we lose ourselves without space to reconnect to what is inside and out. ~A

You write your poetry and I'm suddely there. Your words are rich, succulant food for thoughts...dreams. It's a little chilly here today and your poem warms my imagination with peace and harmony.

Susan

Reading the illuminated lines in RESPITE, one is suddenly transported to a rejuvenating retreat where clarity reasserts itself and healing oneself by one's own hands become a reality. Serenity and a profound sense of self-empowerment grace each of these lines with a sublime beauty and wisdom.
Aberjhani

I agree with Rage and Ed! This is a beauty Peter! You have captured what I experience in the mountains by the lake and by the ocean.If we couldn't get to such a place I can't imagine how we could ever develop those things Rage mentions that might be under our noses but need the change to emanate. When I can't get away silence and meditation does it for me, but getting in tune with nature always brings us closer to Creator. Thanks for this gem Peter!

eT

The Call of the Wild - The Road Less Traveled - Communing with Creation - These are all truly things I could not live without, and this is a marvelous ode to them, Peter.

The good side of being alone in unfamiliar places and times is that the frames buried in our conditioned minds do not work. We are forced to think and rely on our intuition where reason fails. Thus discovering new truths that in some cases may have been right under our noses for quite some time, never noticed, never explored. Such ventures tend to alter our perception on matters occurring around and inside us. Change our lives in a way. It often alienates us from those who never dared or bothered to spend time in explorations outside of the usual, but it shows us how far astray this world has slid from where it could have been. It shows also the insanity and cruelty of those who are responsible for the conditioning inflicted upon this world. Thank you for creating and sharing. Take care,

RAge

Lovely poem. I can smell the honeysuckles.