A space in the dark untrammeled woods,
Above our home, but so distant, a sanctuary,
to the right, off the path untraveled, forgotten,
Under the watch of maples and birch only
a bed of lady slippers, clustered like a twin-bed,
lit, illumined, with filtered spring light.
Planted for me to find, to discover,
by myself, with my thoughts only,
Discoverer, tromping through the mud of that season,
a refuge, a place set apart, remembered,
near the lost stone wall, a rusted wagon wheel
and a forgotten bale of barbed wire.
Nestled, planted, by the lean-to we created,
pipe, corrugated metal, the snow fencing,
to get away for a while, a teenager,
where I stayed overnight,
Exploring the hill, the woods,
the bank below the rocks.
I could find it still, I believe,
I’m sure; for I’ve shown others. . .
Because magic can be held
and finding it means you can again,
up the hill, to the right,
out there in the woods.
-----
Edited November 19, 2023
Out in the Woods – v6
republished March 27, 2021
Out in the Woods - v5
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2021/03/out-in-woods-v5.html
edited March 27, 2021
A bed of lady slippers – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2021/03/a-bed-of-lady-slippers-v3.html
edited March 27, 2021
A bed of lady slippers - v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2021/03/a-bed-of-lady-slippers-v2.html
March 27, 2021
A bed of lady slippers
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2021/03/a-bed-of-lady-slippers.html
edited March 26, 2021
A Lean-to in the Woods - v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2021/03/a-lean-to-in-woods-v2.html
up the trail from Apple Hill Road,
Claremont, NH
1976 to 1978
November 23, 2006 20:06
A Lean-to in the Woods
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2006/11/lean-to-in-woods.html
&
edited October 29, 2015
Out in the Woods – v5
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/10/out-in-woods-v5.html
(editing version 4)
edited April 16, 2015
Out in the Woods – v4
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/04/out-in-woods-v4.html
(editing original)
Edited April 24, 2013
“Out in the woods – v3”
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/04/out-in-woods-v3.html
(from the original)
edited April 26, 2012
“Out in the woods – v2”
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/04/out-in-woods-v2.html
Original poem 3/26/2004
“Out in the woods”
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2004/04/out-in-woods.html
about walk in woods in Claremont, NH
&
edited October 29, 2015
A Walk in the Woods – v3
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/10/a-walk-in-woods-v3.html
(editing version 2)
Edited April 24, 2013
“A Walk in the Woods – v2”
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/04/a-walk-in-woods-v2.html
August 7, 2006 19:38
“A Walk in the Woods”
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2006/08/walk-in-woods.html
&
edited November 19, 2023
End of Wall – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2023/11/end-of-wall-v2.html
5/23/05 21:02
End of Wall
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2005/05/end-of-wall.html
&
Edited June 5, 2023
I have crossed his fence –
v5
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2023/06/i-have-crossed-his-fence-v5.html
Edited February 16, 2023
I have crossed his fence –
v4
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2023/02/i-have-crossed-his-fence-v4.html
edited February 18, 2022
I have crossed his fence – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/i-have-crossed-his-fence-v3.html
&
February 18, 2022
gifted by pulling over
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/gifted-by-pulling-over.html
Bayard Conservation Area
Green Cove Springs, FL
Route 16
&
edited February 18, 2022
Something ancient, sacred –
v7
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/something-ancient-sacred-v7.html
&
edited February 16, 2022
Gathering checkerberries – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/gathering-checkerberries-v2.html
February 15, 2022
Gathering checkerberries
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/gathering-checkerberries.html
UCC
Second Congregational Church, Westfield MA
probably
about 1970 or 1971
&
February 16, 2022
The carpet wet with her tears
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/the-carpet-wet-with-her-tears.html
&
edited February 15, 2022
Sometimes a pen – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/sometimes-pen-v2.html
&
edited February 15, 2022
where they bedded for the night – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/where-they-bedded-for-night-v2.html
Claremont, NH, 1977
&
edited February 15, 2022
Diving, rising, landing – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/diving-rising-landing-v2.html
&
edited
February 15, 2022
I
have crossed his fence – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/i-have-crossed-his-fence-v2.html
February
15, 2022
I
have crossed his fence
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/i-have-crossed-his-fence.html
About
poem, "Mending Wall",
by
Robert Frost
&
February
15, 2022
Diving,
rising, landing
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/diving-rising-landing.html
&
edited/merged
February 15, 2022
on
the shore of the Loch = 2 – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/on-shore-of-loch-2-v2.html
February 14, 2022
on
the shore of the Loch - 2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/on-shore-of-loch.html
edited July 23, 2015
Urughart – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/07/urughart-v3.html
(editing version 2)
edited April 21, 2015
Urughart – v2
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/04/urughart-v2.html
Standing on the edge of Loch Ness, 1999
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2005/08/loch-ness.html
May
7, 2010
On the Shore of the Loch
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2010/05/on-shore-of-loch.html
2/25/06 19:05
Urughart
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2006/02/urquhart.html
1999
trip to Scotland
&
February
14, 2022
A
watch
https://raymondafoss.blogsp
ot.com/2022/02/a-watch.html
1994
or 1995-ish
Martha’s
Vineyard
&
February
14, 2022
I’ve
never been to Provincetown
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/ive-never-been-to-provincetown.html
written
after listening to 2015 interview with Mary Oliver
On
Being with Krista Tippett,
about
her move to Florida from Provincetown, Massachusetts
&
February
14, 2022
That’s
Mine
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/thats-mine.html
1972
vacation on Wells Beach, Wells, Maine
&
February
14, 2022
Looking
out Burns’ window
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/looking-out-burns-window.html
1999
trip to Scotland
&
edited
February 14, 2022
Perched
on my left hand – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/perched-on-my-left-hand-v2.html
2/13/2022
Perched
on my left hand
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/perched-on-my-left-hand.html
written
after reading "The Summer Day"
by
Mary Oliver
photo
of dragonfly on my finger 8/21/2020
Sheila
Nadile Porath - ty. I was very aware that this was a gift, a singular moment. I
very gently lifted the dragonfly from the grass and it was on my right hand. I
moved it to my left hand to take the shots and videos. I so wanted it to stay
longer but I could tell how nervous it was, as its wings were moving. That was
like the white admiral butterfly covered in raindrops a few days earlier. It
had shown its nervousness with its tongue going in and out. In both cases, I
really had to still myself in spite of my heart racing. Trying to be
collaborator not predator to get the shots.
&
February
13, 2022
Sometimes
a pen
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/sometimes-pen.html
written
while listening to rebroadcast of 2015 interview with Mary Oliver
On
Being with Krista Tippett
&
February
13, 2022
the
arch of their backs
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/the-arch-of-their-backs.html
written
a few days after reading "Humpbacks"
by
Mary Oliver
&
February
12, 2022
surrounding
the lake, the woodlands
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/surrounding-lake-woodlands.html
written
after reading "In Blackwater Woods",
by
Mary Oliver
&
February
12, 2022
leftover
chowder
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/leftover-chowder.html
written
after reading “Bluefish”,
by
Mary Oliver
written
about making chowder on Martha’s Vineyard
in
the mid-1990’s
&
edited
February 12, 2022
A
Cup of Berries – v5
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/a-cup-of-berries-v5.html
edited
February 11, 2022
living
goblets – v4
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/living-goblets-v4.html
Edited after reading "Blackberries",
by Mary Oliver
&
edited November 28, 2019
living goblets – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2019/11/living-goblets-v3.html
edited November 27, 2019
living goblets – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2019/11/living-goblets-v2.html
November 27, 2019
living goblets
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2019/11/living-goblets-of-juice-of-nectar-no.html
&
edited November 28, 2019
A Cup of Berries – v4
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2019/11/a-cup-of-berries-v4.html
edited August 22, 2019
A Cup of Berries – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2019/08/a-cup-of-berries-v3.html
edited June 21, 2014
A Cup of Berries – v2
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/06/a-cup-of-berries-v2.html
August 10, 2008
A Cup of Berries
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2008/08/cup-of-berries.html
&
edited February 10, 2022
Apricot and Periwinkle – v7
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/apricot-and-periwinkle-v7.html
edited
after reading “Little Sister Pond”,
by Mary Oliver
&
edited March 21, 2021
Apricot and Periwinkle - v6
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2021/03/apricot-and-periwinkle-v6.html
edited May 5, 2018
Apricot and Periwinkle – v5
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2018/05/apricot-and-periwinkle-v5.html
(editing version 4, adding 1st
stanza)
edited September 28, 2017
Apricot and Periwinkle – v4
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2017/09/apricot-and-periwinkle-v4.html
edited January 18, 2016
Apricot and Periwinkle – v3
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/apricot-and-periwinkle-v3.html
(merging edits to version 2
and original)
edited June 21, 2014
Apricot and Periwinkle – v2
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/06/apricot-and-periwinkle-v2.html
Written 8/28/00 at 10:20 at night
Apricot and Periwinkle
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2004/02/sunset-seeing-colors.html
Written 8/28/00 at 10:20 at night
Swain’s Lake, Barrington, NH
&
February 10, 2022
where they bedded for the
night
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/where-they-bedded-for-night.html
written after reading “Little
Sister Pond”,
by Mary Oliver
&
Edited February 10, 2022
something ancient, sacred
- v6
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/something-ancient-sacred-v6.html
February 10, 2022
&
Gathering another branch
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/gathering-another-branch.html
written after reading
"A Meeting"
by Mary Oliver
&
edited February 8, 2022
Building their nest – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/building-their-nest-v2.html
February 7, 2022
Building their nest
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/building-their-nest.html
&
edited February 10, 2022
something ancient, sacred –
v5
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/something-ancient-sacred-v5.html
edited February 10, 2022
something ancient, sacred –
v4
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/something-ancient-sacred-v4.html
edited
February 9, 2022
something ancient, sacred – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/something-ancient-sacred-v3.html
edited after reading, “Crossing the Swamp”,
by Mary Oliver
&
Edited October 19, 2013
something ancient, sacred – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/something-ancient-sacred-v2.html
July 21, 2013
something ancient, sacred
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/07/something-ancient-sacred.html
about fishing trip
July 17, 2013
&
edited February 9, 2022
drawn to the source – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/drawn-to-source-v2.html
February 9, 2022
drawn to the source
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/drawn-to-source.html
written after reading, “The Fish” and
“Honey at the Table”,
by Mary Oliver
&
edited February 9, 2022
Wooing the Darkness to Sleep – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/wooing-darkness-to-sleep-v2.html
February 9, 2022
Wooing the Darkness to Sleep
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/wooing-darkness-to-sleep.html
written after reading, “White Night”,
by Mary Oliver
&
edited February
9, 2022
Her Lady Slipper
– v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/her-lady-slipper-v3.html
edited after
reading “May”,
by Mary Oliver
&
edited February 9, 2022
at the edge of the lake – v4
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/at-edge-of-lake-v4.html
edited February 9, 2022
at the edge of the lake – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/at-edge-of-lake-v3.html
edited February 9, 2022
at the edge of the lake – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/at-edge-of-lake-v2.html
edited February 9, 2022
onto the water – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/onto-water-v2.html
February 8, 2022
onto the water
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/onto-water.html
about summer 2000,
written after reading "Blossom"
by Mary Oliver
&
February 8, 2022
at the edge of the lake
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/at-edge-of-lake.html
about summer 2000,
written after reading "Morning on Great Pond"
by Mary Oliver
&
edited February 8, 2022
in the woods I wandered – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/in-woods-i-wandered-v3.html
edited February 8, 2022
in the woods I wandered – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/in-woods-i-wandered-v2.html
February 8, 2022
in the woods I wandered
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/in-woods-i-wandered.html
written after reading “Spring”
by Mary Oliver
&
edited February 8, 2022
The bramble enticing – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/the-bramble-enticing-v2.html
February 8, 2022
the bramble enticing
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/the-bramble-enticing.html
Written after reading "Skunk Cabbage"
by Mary Oliver
&
February 6, 2022
Diatomaceous earth
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/diatomaceous-earth.html
Written after reading "Rain in Ohio",
By Mary Oliver
&
February 6, 2022
The raptors, their carrion
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/02/the-raptors-their-carrion.html
Written after reading
"Vultures" by Mary Oliver.
&
January 3, 2022
A squadron of geese
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/01/a-squadron-of-geese.html
written after reading Clapp’s Brook by Mary Oliver
&
January 3, 2022
The bear cub
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/01/the-bear-cub.html
About drive out of Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument
after 2019 Stars Over Katahdin dark skies event.
Drafted after reading first part of poem "Clapp's
Brook" by Mary Oliver.
------------
poetry, nature, pool, memories,
#poetry #nature #pool #memories
-----------
poetry, Florida, nature, raptors, birds, carrion,
#poetry #Florida #nature #raptors #birds #carrion
-------------
poetry, blackberry,
blackberries, nature, harvest, bramble,
#poetry #Blackberry
#blackberries #nature #harvest #bramble
-------------
poetry, walk, woods,
explore, exploration,
#poetry #walk
#woods #explore #exploration
---------------
poetry, dawn, God, promise, lake, night,
darkness, sunrise, sleep, wake, circadian rhythm,
#poetry #dawn #God #promise #lake #night
#darkness #sunrise #sleep #wake
---------------
poetry, God, nature, humanity, connection,
woods, table, food, hunger, fish, honey, Mary Oliver,
#poetry #God #nature #humanity #connection #woods
#table #food #hunger #fish #honey #MaryOliver
All of my poems,
photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 1999, 2000, 2001,
2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014,
2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. All rights are
reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 53,000+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry
Where You Live.
------------
poetry, Faith, home, hope, house, leaves, light, Nature, Maine,
orange, Poetry Where You Live, sky, sun, water, rain, thunder, forest,
#poetry #Faith #home #hope #leaves #light #Nature #ME #sky
#sun #water #memory #forest #ancestor
--------------
poetry, God, seagull, flight, flying, wings, hawks, nature,
raptors, birds, creation, Florida, osprey, nest,
#poetry #God #flight #flying #wings #hawks #Florida
#nature #raptors #birds #creation #osprey #nest
---------
poetry, blackberries, blood, colors, creator, crimson, Faith,
Family, fingers, fire, fruit, God, hands, hope, Nature, raspberries, red, ripe,
summer, Lori Eldridge,
#poetry #blackberries #blood #colors #crimson #Faith #Family
#fingers #fire #fruit #God #hands #Nature #raspberries #ripe #summer
-----------
Nature, creator, forest, Faith, neighbor, poetry, colors,
stone, poem, light, Robert Frost, New Hampshire, America, Poetry Where You
Live, Family, God
#Nature #forest #Faith #neighbor #poetry #stone #poem #light
#Robert Frost #New Hampshire #America #Poetry Where You Live #Family #God
---------------
poetry, nature, table, food, fish, chowder, memory,
Martha’s Vineyard, Mary Oliver,
#poetry #nature #table #food #fish #MaryOliver #chowder
#MarthasVineyard #memory
-----------
poetry,
river, lake, swamp, bog, nature, cycle, Mary Oliver, water, beaver, God,
creation,
#poetry
#river #lake #swamp #bog #nature #cycle #MaryOliver #water #beaver #God
#creation
-----------
poetry, nature, whales, memory, Mary Oliver,
#poetry #nature #whales #MaryOliver #memory
------------
poetry,
writing, Mary Oliver, inspiration, nature, God, faith, family,
#poetry
#writing #MaryOliver #inspiration #nature #God #faith #family
----------
poetry,
writing, Mary Oliver, nature, God, dragonfly, closeup, wings, eyes,
#poetry
#writing #MaryOliver #inspiration #nature #dragonfly #wings #eyes
-----------
poetry,
Burns, Robert Burns, Scotland, ancestry, Scottish, birthplace, home,
#poetry
#Burns #RobertBurns #Scotland #ancestry #Scottish #birthplace #home
------------
poetry,
Wells, Maine, lobster, trap, summer, treasure, fishing,
#poetry
#Wells #Maine #lobster #trap #summer #treasure #fishing
----------------
poetry,
nature, Mary Oliver, New England, Florida, seasons, beach, woods, Martha's
Vineyard,
#poetry
#nature #MaryOliver #NewEngland #Florida #seasons #beach #woods
#MarthasVineyard
---------------------
poetry,
nature, writing, Martha’s Vineyard,
#poetry
#nature #writing #MarthasVineyard
------------------
poetry,
Robert Burns, Scotland, ancestry, Scottish, Loch Ness, nature, Loch Ness
Monster, urquhart castle,
#poetry
#RobertBurns #Scotland #ancestry #Scottish #LochNess #nature #LochNessMonster
#
UrquhartCastle
memories, Scotland, Loch Ness, Raymond A. Foss, Poetry
Where You Live, nature, wind, water, mist, fog, waves, sight, smell, senses,
rock,
-------------------
poetry,
God, church, faith, family, nature, checkerberries, terrarium, Christmas, gifts,
memories,
#poetry
#God #church #faith #family #nature #checkerberries #terrarium #Christmas #gifts
#memories
--------------
poetry, Faith, home, hope, house, leaves, light, Nature, Maine,
orange, Poetry Where You Live, sky, sun, water, rain, thunder, forest, walls,
fences,
#poetry #Faith #home #hope #leaves #light #Nature #ME #Poetry
#sky #sun #water #memory #forest #ancestor
------------------------
poetry,walk,woods,exploration,Florida,mangrove,swamp,water,forest,
#poetry
#walk #woods #explore #exploration #Florida #mangrove #swamp #water #forest
-------------
poetry,
Robert Frost, Mending Wall, Mary Oliver, stones, stone walls, walking, woods,
writing, The Road Not Taken, Wild Geese,
#poetry
#RobertFrost #MendingWall #MaryOliver #stones #stonewalls #walking #woods
#writing #TheRoadNotTaken #WildGeese
-------------
wind, nature, forest,
cold, love, grace, faith, God, hope, comfort, Raymond A. Foss, Poetry Where You
Live, poetry, spring, woods, lady slipper, flower,
#wind #nature #forest
#cold #love #grace #faith #God #hope #comfort #poetry #woods #spring
#ladyslipper #flower
