Title???

I wish I could just lose myself in a world where it's ok not to know what you want.

As I lay sprawled beneath the spreading chestnut tree

Whose arms, though gnarled, still reach outwards, upwards

Towards the late afternoon sun

Which basks the hillside in a golden glow

And whose sparkling beams of light

Extend like columns, nearly solid, through breaks

In the branches

And capture clouds of dancing dust

Which skim and swirl intermittently

As a soft breeze whispers through the Spanish moss

That hangs and sways,

Interrupting the sun’s sparkling rays and causing

Shadows to flit dissimilarly across my skin

 

And I close my eyes and listen

To the gentle gusts of wind which softly rustle the milkweed plants

And tickle my nose as they blow by

And I see the golden pink behind my eyelids fade gradually to deep indigo

And feel goose bumps crawl tingling across my skin

As the air develops a pleasant chill

And the crickets begin their nightly ballad to the stars

 

I feel the night though I haven’t yet seen it

So I am still lost in the warm golden glow of late afternoon

When, suddenly, I sit up strait and open my eyes wide

As wide as they will go

And the darkness is all that I notice for a moment

And my head spins with a rush of excitement at the sudden change

And the cold air shocks my moist eyes

Causing tears to stream down my freckled cheeks

And as the cricket choir’s song swells to a climax

I throw my head back and laugh

 

I laugh my heart out though nothing is funny

Except the absurdity of the act itself

And I pour my laughter out to the stars

The stars which are so beautiful,

but which I have yet to take time to admire tonight

And the laughter continues for many minutes,

Or perhaps hours

Until I hiccup my way down to my back again

And skim my fingers across the already dew covered grass

And stare up past the shadowy fingers that are the tree’s branches

To the stars - finally the stars - which now glow so gloriously brightly

As if they were laughing as well

I wake slowly to the sound of soft breezes

And gentle sunrays peeking shyly through the curtains of hanging moss

My eyelids are heavy with the dew that clings to my lashes

Causing my vision to blur, creating a surreal world of indistinct light and color

I rub my eyes with my knuckles

I stretch my body out long

From the reaching tips of my fingers to the point of my toes

I smile, my eyes crinkle

I stand slowly,

And then I dig my bare toes into the dirt, squeeze my eyes shut tight

Take a breath

And then I open them wide

And I take off running gleefully, triumphantly, through the ankle-high grass

Tangled mass of hair flying splendidly out behind me

 

To what, to whom, to where I am running

I’ve not a clue

Author's Note

I wrote this because there was a specific picture in my mind that I felt I needed to paint with words. I didn't add too many discernible metaphors because I want people to be able to interpret it how ever they want, as it applies to their own life, because I think that everyone wishes every now and then to be free for a little bit. Personally, I wrote it because I am at a time in my life where I'm under a lot of pressure to make big choices, but I don't always know what I want. Sometimes, all I want is to live by myself in a meadow in an endless summer. As always, any and all constructive criticism is welcome.

Reviews

[Fabian G. Franklin]

I enjoyed the read my friend. It seems almost like a dream sequence. There aren't many of the old chestnut trees left here...a worm imported in the fifties ate most of them to death...but I love a chestnut tree...just don't walk barefoot under there...OUCH! Those spiny husks can hurt! I think I'd rather lay under a pecan tree...

[Liefje]

Well thank you! I just think chestnut trees are gorgeous. I never knew that about the worms - learn something new every day, I guess. :)

[Liefje]

Also, I was trying to achieve a dreamlike atmosphere, and I'm pleased that you noticed

[Tony Crego]

YAY! another one! i love it

[Liefje]

thanks! :)

[EverleafOwl]

Oh. My. LORD IN HEAVEN! This is probably the *BEST* poem i've read YET!!!!! XD You have no idea how bloody *overjoyed* i am right now!!!!!! Siriusly, this is definetly the most amazing poem i have yet to read on the site....just.....good gawd! :D

Ok, onto the goodies!
First, the tree- are you a desendent of Van Gogh or something? Because you words were painting.....no: BEING, things that most people can't create with art degrees! (No offense to any of you artist out there! You tock! Just, like, commenting here!) Such a young and inspiring idea; gazing up into the tree that seems to hold up the sky. I do that all the time in summer (reading outside is my exercise...lol!), so i really liked the feelings that gave me, personally.

Next! The dusk! Goodness, i feel like some Shakespeare- O my fellow writing, where shall thee compare words to? Art thine as beautiful to thy pictures thine describe! :)
Yup- my ye old English roots nailed it; in this poem, your words hold this power, a aura of a emotion like a memory, that pulls you in fast and reveals all its colors...kind of hard to describe, but the power is awe-inspiring! It's there, but not sitting still: it's moving, breathing, singing it's life and all its soul...oh my word, your magical! X)

And some more review love!
You, describing yourself, was so delightful to read! (The fact that YOU are delightful also contributes to that!). The stars- really quite brillant! Of course, so was the crickets...and wind...and dew....OKAY!!!! Lets just sat that the ENTIRE poem was so...epic. And i do not use that n

[EverleafOwl]

*that in the sense that others use it (e.g.- "Dude, thatsss soooo EPIC!!!!).
I mean that this is totally and all-powerful epic. As in, what the greeks *correctly* used the word for!

The ending. Summer dawn, is there anything more beautiful? The start of freedom and warmth. (Heat, really...can get quite hot here!). Weather aside, the finally both hels the same power as the other stanzas, yet wrapped up all your poetic epicness with even MORE amazing.......genius! (I should really invent a word for something as bloody awesome as this poem!). The dew on the lashs

[EverleafOwl]

*eye lashes was really clever...like coated in dreams! :) Bare toes- nice touch! Feel of summer= good and pure. :D The running held its adventure- longing it its grasp as you raced to find it....so good! The last line hit my like a slap from an angel; such a great shock. =) Like in youth, at the start of something bigger then we know, but so much promise...you summed up these feel sand SO many othrs

[EverleafOwl]

*others with exactly THIRTEEN WORDS!!!!! …………HOW??? XD Because you were born with a pen in your hand, thats why!

I apologize for these fragments of reviews...accidently kept touching Post Comment....oops! :/ :)

As i've prattled on long enough about it, this is the BEST thing i have had the extreme pleasure and joy to read and delight in....thank you so much for writing it!
Your fellow poet, nerdette, and friend,
Tori

[Liefje]

oh my gosh! that was a loooong review! thanks so much for all the compliments! I love hearing all of your interpretations of the different aspect of my poems - you're always spot on xD Your reviews make me so happy

[EverleafOwl]

You are sooo welcome! Really quite a brilliant poem...X)
Happy Saint Patrick's Day!