“Stand still. The trees ahead and bushes beside you
Are not lost. Wherever you are is called Here,
And you must treat it as a powerful stranger,
Must ask permission to know it and be known.
The forest breathes. Listen. It answers,
I have made this place around you.
If you leave it, you may come back again, saying Here.
No two trees are the same to Raven.
No two branches are the same to Wren.
If what a tree or a bush does is lost on you,
You are surely lost. Stand still. The forest knows
Where you are. You must let it find you.”
David wagoner is an American poet and was initially influenced by family, ethnic neighbourhoods, industrial production pollution and the urban environment.
This poem has inspired us to write a poem also about being lost. David Wagoner’s poem is also about being lost in nature, taking the time to stand back and reflect upon it. There seems to be a focus on respecting nature, this is because Wagoner highly influenced by the anger he feels at nature being violated and destroyed by mankind. Wagoner moved from the American Midwest to the Pacific Northwest which is renowned for its greenery and beautiful nature landscapes which also influenced his writings as he felt renewed by moving there and in “awe”.
This is one of Wagoner’s most influential poems, even making it onto one of Oprah Winfrey’s webcasts. Many websites have also featured this poem for relaxation and mindfulness as it seems this is a poem interpreted by many as reflection on life and nature as a grounding force.
He is influenced by his early mentor, Theodore Roethke, who is also a nature poet who grew up with a 25-acre greenhouse. Roethke is famous for his lyrical poems, many which are nature based, like ‘The Waking’ which personifies nature by giving natures characteristics capital letters, for example “Great Nature has another thing to do.” And “Light takes the Tree; but who can tell us how?“. He is also famed for his tragic childhood where at age 14 his dad died and also his uncle committed suicide. This caused a lot of mental health issues for him later in life and impacted his teaching and work.
Like Roethke, Wagoner also personifies nature, giving birds capital letters like “No two trees are the same to Raven.” and “No two branches are the same to Wren.” This gives more importance and power to nature which is what Wagoner wants, instead of man ruling over nature.
Beth Radic Art 