Living, learning, walking in the woods.

Family Trees

Alone so often in some far off wood,
So comforting, for no one understood
My vain attempts, this dreamer with a plan
So simple, just to be a family man.

What matters were elusive things for me.
With no such thing as “How it’s meant to be.”
The freedom of these woods, no one to blame
While pondering remembrance of the game.

I had my dream, but only for a while-
Some never do, so I can only smile
Remembering the sweetness of it all.
Surprised about the things I can recall.

The good, the bad, the strange and wondrous things,
The Valentines and golden wedding rings,
The forest walks we thought would never end.
The trees have taught me well how I must bend.

The fallen tell their stories countless ways,
Majestic stumps whose rings are filled with days
I count which bring me back into the past
When trees and dreams believed that they would last.

Amazing now the things I’ve come to know
By walks along the path of letting go.
Awake instead of dreaming ever more-
The sunlight reaches to the forest floor.

John H. Bidwell