The Secret Wood

There are places still on this planet where

No man has ever trod,

That lie so deep in the undergrowth,

Put there by the grace of God,

And denizens lie there, watchfully

In guarding their holy place,

Intruders enter but never return

As part of the human race.

The earth entangles and trips their feet

When they stray from near and far,

And vines entwine in a blink of time

To tether them where they are,

While briars inject as they’re taking root

Seep poison into their veins,

To leave them dank with their eyes so blank

With what human thought remains.

I saw you wandering aimlessly

Too close to the place of God,

And followed you inconspicuously

Or you might have thought it odd,

And when you stumbled and almost fell

At the edge of their secret wood,

I found and slashed at the vines that bound

In that alien neighbourhood.

I lured you out of the convent walls

And I sought to take you home,

You raised your head in confusion, said

That all roads lead to Rome,

I said, ‘You’re throwing your life away

For the drear of a lonely cell,

But life is there to be lived, my love,

Or all roads lead to Hell.’

The Penguins came to collect you, tried

To bind you with former vows,

And flapped their wings at your reason

Using what force the law allows,

I slammed the door in my silent war

On their medieval taint,

And hoped you’d say that you’d marry me,

Though I never wanted a saint!

It’s been a year and I see you stare

Each time that we pass their gate,

Wondering if you should be there

But I thank God, it’s too late,

Our daughter bubbles with life, and grins

As a child of God, she should,

I’d rather her path was paved with sins

Than led to their secret wood.

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[Rene Salinas]

I couldn't read this without remembering Kipling's poem. My Dad used to read it to me at night before going to sleep and although it was a children's poetry book , not even sure that Kipling would agree with its child - like embrace. This writing bears the same embrace of haunting quality of walking through a place that we take for granted but after really questioning we realize that maybe we do not know that place although we assume familiarity. So as we walk through this writing not suprisingly it gets to a moment of admitance "rather her path was paved with sins that lead to a secret wood" .

Greatly enjoyed

Thankyou

[The Twin Arenas]

I agree with this totally.

[Rene Salinas]

Welcome aboard!

[TPK Stories]

As always an enjoyable read...well done...

[Thomas Fitzgerald]

Indeed, will we ever gain these places back for our own greed or indeed death! well done, good read.

[Avinash]

Something that reasons mind should be followed when agreed with reason. All other things directly or indirectly feed the escapist mentality. It was indeed thought provoking.

[R Smith]

I like this very dark tale and the wood as a nunnery that entangles and steals the minds of young girls, its becoming more seen now that such places have been in the past more like prisons and the inmates treated harshly, despite attempts to give girls a belief and a home with God they became bound by rules and laws created by man, not the place of spiritual contemplation expected originally, think i'm climbing a soap box here so just to say another great poem/story of yours in a remarkably long line of work, well done :)

[Marie]

I don't know what poem of Kipling's Rene Salinas is talking about, and I kow Kipling pretty well. THe ryming scheme is his, yes; but the story is all yours. I believe the vines are a cult and the woods a cell, though not necessarily relisious...

[MomzillaNC]

A very Protestant view of the Convent. I must say, I rather agree. I applaud anyone who can make such a commitment, but wonder if God ever intended humankind to choose such asceticism. After all, in the very opening of the Scripture, we're told: Genesis 1:27 NIV "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth…" and in Genesis 2:24 NIV "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh."

[Marie]

I'm not at all sure DLP was speaking of Catholicism but of something more sinister...

[AprilRN1210]

you are such an amazing writer and I always enjoy my visits to your page.. The way you enchant the reader with stories, lessons, and stunning imagery with your skillful wordplay is captivating and awe-inspiring.. This one has beautiful spiritual life lessons sprinkled throughout.... you tie it up so neatly with the ending.. the flow is breathtaking and love the effortless rhyme throughout.. another amazing write..

[The Twin Arenas]

man, what a great read.
that's a really cool idea for a poem, David.

[The Twin Arenas]

Penguins, man. The flightless birds.

[David Lewis Paget]

...Nuns....