A Winter Afternoon in the Forest with Emerson and Muir

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“I am commissioned in my day of joy
To leave my woods and streams and sweet sloth
Of prayer and that were my dear delight,
To leave the rudeness of my woodland life,”
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

I recently bought a Kindle Fire from Amazon and discovered a world of FREE Ralph Waldo Emerson and John Muir Books. Yes, FREE!  In the vastness of my new library I came across a 1926 poem by Emerson called The Summons (excerpt above).  I often hear Emerson and Muir in the breezes along the trails, they tell me to look with my Heart and see with my Soul.  Who could or would argue with their sage advise.

It is this feeling expressed above all that fills my heart as my foot fall moves from earthen trail to paved street.  The wandering of my Soul through Nature’s home brings joy not known by my words alone.  I will hold this memory until her beckoning call returns me once more to Mountain, Meadow, Forest and Valley Trails to roam. ~ Lee Hiller-London

In winter the obvious beauty of spring Wildflowers and summer Leaves give way to details hidden for many months.  I often find myself having to retrain my eyes to look upon the new landscape and see the richness withing my view.  I step into the winter Forest and stand for a moment eyes closed, taking a deep breath to forget her past so I can revel in her present.  As I slowly reopen my eyes the once stark and barren leafless Forest is repainted with the spectacular beauty of rough texture muted pallet.

Love To ALL!
Lee

Filed under: Hot Springs National Park Tagged: Emerson, Hiking Trails, Hot Springs National Park, John Muir, Muir, Nature Blog, Nature Photography, Nature Poetry, Photo Blog, Photography, Photography Blog, Poetry, Ralph Waldo Emerson, rocks, Soul Poerty, Winter Trails

Lee Hiller owner of Hike Our Planet is the most followed Nature Photographer on Twitter (@LeeHillerLondon) with over 25,000 followers. To find out why CLICK HERE.

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