Belinda Stotler

The perpetual cadence of the vast sea
Stirs a restless desire that engulfs me.
Like an infinite force I dare not impede,
Briefly rushing in - only to then recede.
Beckoning me to leave life's safe shore,
Into deep waters of mystery and lore.

The seagulls' cries seem to taunt me,
To follow them over the endless sea,
Where I'd be free to spread my wings
And discover the new life the sea brings.
Yet, fear holds me fast to a familiar place,
Away from the unknown trials I may face.

Even the ocean's waves seem to conspire,
Relentlessly calling to stoke curiosity's fire,
As they rumble ashore with impatient haste,
Swirling about my feet with purpose chaste,
Urging me to follow as they return to the sea,
Leaving a luring trail of life or its relics for me.

Shall I boldly explore the sea's possibilities,
Or allow imagined worries to be liabilities?
Although I cannot foretell all the sea offers,
The strong desire to enrich my mind's coffers
Begs me to obey the sea's enticing siren song
And let its wandering currents carry me along.

As the day slowly wanes on the sea's horizon,
I ponder the sea's glittering trail to the sun,
Inviting me to watch its vibrant dying light,
Before the day's life gives way to the night.
Still, I lingered a while after it faded away,
Wondering about the promises of a new day.

Leaves fluttering on a gentle breeze,
Within the forest of whispering trees,
Makes sunlight gracefully dance there,
Upon the ground and everywhere.
Dappling streams with sparkling light,
Catching the colors of birds in flight,
Giving flowers a lovely surreal glow,
Rousing our spirits with nature's show.

Nightfall gives the forest a mysterious allure
As trees become shadows of what they were;
Soon a chorus arises deep in forest thickets,
From the croaking frogs and chirping crickets,
Blending in the whip-poor-wills' lonely calls,
With the owls' echoing pleas in forest halls,
As fireflies scatter light upon a dark palette,
All beneath the mystic forest's starlit coverlet.

Nature's melodic sounds are sure to enthrall,
As life's songs peal within a forest cathedral.
Nature adds the wind's timbre with a breeze,
Or the rain's resonating rhythm through leaves.
Merging with rippling sounds of forest streams,
All serenading restless minds into daydreams
That comforts those who seek refuge there.
If only they'll listen while in the forest's care.

Thoughts become gentle among natural sights,
While our spirits entwine with forest delights,
Enticing us to hear life's natural gifts of mirth,
Inviting us to see the wondrous beauty of Earth,
As nature stirs feelings some cannot determine;
Yet, the subtle answers lie in a forest's sermon,
Urging us to listen to instincts we once knew,
To walk lightly on Earth as other creatures do.

Come, walk with me into the forest's blessed abode,
To see the wondrous beauty the Earth has bestowed;
We'll bask in the surreal splendor that surrounds us,
And listen to nature composing the forest's grand opus,
As sounds of whispering trees and burbling streams,
Send our minds wandering into a poet's lovely dreams.

We'll walk where sunlight sets the forest's leaves aglow,
Weaving open paths to dapple golden light on all below;
Where trees shade us from summer heat and harsh rays,
Freeing our minds so we can see Mother Nature's ways,
Of creating nurturing sanctuaries for life dwelling there,
To shield its tender wards from storms too hard to bear.

Come sit beneath the glowing embers of an autumn tree,
Whose rich hues are a natural wonder many come to see,
While colorful leaves glide down in a whirling course,
Like embers breaking loose from their flaming source.
Glowing for a moment as if falling to their ending fate,
Instead, nourishing Earth for rebirth into a new state.

The wintering forest seems to be a still, desolate place.
Yet, under the snow and autumn leaves of a tree's base,
Beats the promising pulse of new life that patiently waits
For spring's warmth and rain to open wide nature's gates;
Roam with me under the trees standing strong over it all,
To watch them quietly sleep until nature's beckoning call.

Let us stroll in spring's forest where we will reap
The joy of Earth awakening its children from sleep,
And hear life's chorus and watch its offspring grow,
As waking trees renew their canopy over all below;
Come share with me the forest's spirit at rebirth,
So we too are reborn within this temple of Earth.

Every now and then let us answer the forest's call,
To come see life's beauty and the miracle of it all;
If we listen with our hearts as we walk among trees,
We may understand the message carried on a breeze,
For us to blend with the forest's spirit so it will beguile
Us into walking under its lovely trees for just a while.