I Went For a Walk With a Friend Today: a Poem About Values
I Went For a Walk With a Friend Today
• This poem aims to highlight how people’s values vary from one another, and how they observe our world through different eyes. I hope it inspires readers to marvel at the beauty that surrounds us all.
I Went For a Walk With a Friend Today
I went for a walk with a friend today,
Through a beautiful forest, we made our way.
Swaying leafy branches spread
A dappled green canopy overhead.
Bright painted parrots flew swiftly about
Flashing through branches, in and out.
Honeysuckle hung in starry showers
Like a sweet-scented waterfall of flowers.
Colours of yellow, crimson, and green
Glowed like a lovely Christmas scene.
With beauty erupting all over our heads
My friend saw only the ground ahead.
I went for a walk with a friend today,
Through fields and meadows, we made our way.
Wildflowers opened, their beauty unfolded
Beautiful petals, scarlet and golden.
I saw jewels in a sea of emerald green grass,
Where pebbles of amber glittered like glass.
And tiny wee footprints embedded in sand
Perhaps made by the elfin from fairyland.
And all this natural loveliness made
The meadow into a pixie folk glade.
Yet, with this infinite beauty surrounding our feet
My friend just looked up and complained of the heat.
by John Hansen © 2017
Now I find myself branching out and experimenting with short fiction, and thoroughly enjoying this, especially flash fiction.
I have been fortunate to have two poems made into songs and recorded. The first "On the Road to Kingdom Come" by Al Wordlaw, and the second, "If I Could Write a Love Poem" by award-winning Israeli/British singer Tally Koren.
My services increasingly in demand as a freelance writer and I have ghost-written the text for a number of children's books and educational tutorials.
It has taken me many years of searching and restlessness to realise that my life's passion is to write. It saddens me that I wasted so many years not devoting to that, but thinking positively, the experiences gained over those years are now wonderful material for my stories and poems.
I want to try to bring a new focus on poetry and try to make it appealing to a new generation of young people and those who thought they never liked or understood it before.
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Beauty is all around us in nature. To appreciate, see and enjoy it is glorious. To not notice it is sad indeed. Lovely poem, John.
Very true words, Phyllis. Thank you.
Some lovely imagery John, and I don’t understand how some people do not see the beauty. There’s beauty everywhere if you look for it. We are blessed in Australian with such a wonderful array of flora and fauna, and I’m like you, I sit in wonder of it all. great work.
We are certainly on the same wavelength here, Tony. Thanks for the great comment.
Your poem hits home with me John. I live at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and it amazes me how many people here I know never take the time to walk and enjoy the beauty of nature and God’s handiwork even though it is literally 20 minutes away. Just like that old saying – “Can’t see the forest through the trees”. I have only seen photos of the beauty on your faraway continent, someday I aim to visit and see your beauty as well…
Yes, Kurt. It amazes me as well. I have never visited your beautiful part of the world either. Hope you make it here someday. You won’t be disappointed.
Lovely imagery John, a forest hike is the best kind, you feel and sense all of life’s spirit there. To trudge through without even looking…a shame. A vivid piece, and great message. Enjoyed it!
Best,
Mel
Thank you, Mel. Yes, it is sad that some people just cannot appreciate the beauty that surrounds them.
Imagery here was magnificent John. It is crazy how people have different interpretations of life, how could you not just bask in the beauty of Mother Nature, but sometimes people are not interested in their surroundings. There is so much beauty out there, to walk right by it without a glance should be considered a sin. Great work John.
Thank you, Paul. I totally agree.