Painting: ‘Clouds Rising on Pinto Lake-
Wyoming’s Wind River Range’
By Artist Ogden Minton Pleissner
“Wilderness is not only a haven for Earth’s native plants and animals,
It’s a refuge from society. It’s a place to go to hear the wind, and little else;
To see the stars and the galaxies; to smell the magnificent pine trees;
To feel the cold water; to touch the sky and the ground at the same time;
To listen to coyotes; to eat fresh snow; to walk across the desert sands;
And to realize, why it’s still so good to be alive.”
John Muir
Like Muir, I’ve been drawn to the wild my entire life
I much prefer the wilderness, to our cities and towns
The remaining wild places in our ever shrinking world
Are places where tranquility and wonder, I have found
Places, where I have been able to leave my worries behind
Places, where I can still gaze upon God’s wondrous Creation
Places, where the numerous sounds that I hear, are still natural
Places, where my nature loving heart and soul, can still find elation
I recently viewed Sierra Club’s List of the ‘Ten Best Wild Places’
Ten remaining wild places, one should not miss before they perish
As I went over this list, and began reminiscing about my wild treks
I soon sadly realized that out of their ten best, I have only visited six
At this stage in life, I now realize I probably won’t see the other four
But I am extremely grateful, that I got to experience, over half of them
My remaining wilderness treks will probably be much closer to my home
And there are now far less wild places, but I’ll seek them out, until my end
I’ve linked their ‘Top Ten Wilderness Bucket List’ to the end of this piece
They are all marvelous, and the six that I visited are: The Dolomites in Italy
The Grand Canyon, The North Cascade Mountains, John Muir’s Wilderness
Wyoming’s Wind River Range, and the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee
Although I have visited Alaska several times, I’ve never hiked The Arctic Refuge
And I have never been to Kauai, Hawaii, or to Chile's wild, wondrous Patagonia
I truly wish that I had now, since my opportunities to do so, are probably now gone
But I do hope to convince my spouse that we should visit Maine’s spectacular Acadia
Like Muir, I’ve been drawn to the wild my entire life,
I much prefer the wilderness, to our cities and towns;
The remaining wild places in our ever shrinking world,
Are places, where tranquility and wonder, I have found.
©2011, Wild Place Bucket List Dreaming, Mr. Ed
Sierra Club's Top Ten Wild Places
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God blesses all who recognize the beauty of this.
Lady Vivian
Sheila
Anna
That is so beautiful. And the pic and music make it more. Nature is beautiful, sometimes we forget to appreciate it.
Mary
but is it only a metter of time before...?
You're a champion of the beautiful, Ed.
John
I've never been much of a trekker in the Wilds. Was a Boy Scout, and Explorer Scout, and truly enjoyed it ... in fact, we spent an entire weekend Hiking the entire 18-Miles of The Appalachian Trail, from the Maryland/PA Line, down to Harpers Ferry, WV ... it was exciting 'Roughin' It!'
However, in june 1960, in Army Reserves . Cape Henlopen, NJ entire Company was eaten alive by SKEETERS! Abandoned Airbase for decades had NOT been Sprayed! Several Officers' Heads Rolled!
Then in Summer of 1965, dug in, and set up a Perimeter for War Games on deserted Island in James River, VA. all eaten alive again, only by CHIGGERS!
However, I can relate and join with Nature, just sitting near a little Babbling Brook, in a local County Park ... no Over-nighters tho!
P-A-L ... TK.
Yet, I was stunned to see how much wilderness there is in the States, driving forever and not seeing another car.
BTW, how about Peru and Mount Picchu, or is that full of us bloody tourists. lol
I wonder, when will we truly learn to appreciate the gift, we were given by his creation, instead of destroying it? I wonder, when will true man, truly stand up to protect his only home, his fledgling youngsters still in the nest, before it is destroyed forever.
This morning as Hydro Ontario, cut extensively, branches near hydro lines, two tiny little titmouse trying to defend their nest and their youngsters, so tiny these most courages creatures, no bigger then the end of a tooth of the sawblade, I prayed for them to win of course, but when will man defend his own nest with such courage and foracity, when, let's not leave it up to the politicians, most of them are in the pockets of big business, the birds didn't wait for politicians, they would have waited a long time woulnd't they.
As always, many blessings for such a great write dear Ed.
Jasmin Horst
Bob
I have visited New Jersey's Pine Barrens;
But, I do admit, that it was many moons ago,
On many trips to the East, wild trekking I would go.
My bucket list is getting smaller as I get older. Sometimes you just don't have the energy nor the funds to all that you wish you could.
Much peace, love and light,
Amber
Abdi-Noor
Still- a local forest is my sanctuary.
I'm so with you here.
Great thoughts in poetry.
John