An Old Wooden Fence and a Rushing Creek
An old wooden fence still stands
in a meadow of wildflowers,
high on an alpine hill
where once a little cabin stood.
The smell of honeysuckle seeps into the wood
where the bush covers the fence here and there,
above the meadow a majestic snow-capped mountain
nourishes the meadow and valleys below
with cyrstal clear waters in bubbling brooks
and a rushing creek which giggles over large rocks
not far from the wooden fence.
The old wooden fence asked the rushing creek,
“Do you think there might be a day
when someone will build a cabin here again?”
“Oh, no,” said the creek. “It cannot be.
No one will live here again. It is too far away
from the valleys below and no one will see
a sign of a cabin which stood,
and gardens that grew,
and life in another time.”
Then in the cold winter the old wooden fence
laid down and died at last,
as the wildflowers lovingly spread more seeds,
and the honeysuckle grew more roots and branches
to protect the fence, as only old friends can.
© 2020 Phyllis Doyle Burns
~~~
For more works by this author see Phyllis Doyle Burns Author Page
and Phyllis Doyle Burns on HubPages
I have always liked to write.It is important to me that writing comes from my heart and soul. When writing poetry, if I do not feel a spiritual connection to what I am writing on, I will discard it and go on to something I can connect with on a spiritual level. I live in the moment, I write from the past or beyond the veil. When writing fiction I go with whatever inspires me at the moment - it could be funny, sorrowful, romantic or sometimes done with the use of colloquial language from mountain folk or other cultural regions.
I began writing content online in 2007, starting with BellaOnline - A Voice For Women, where I was the Native American Editor, Folklore & Mythology Editor, and the Appalachian Editor. I also wrote articles forThe Examiner, Daily Two Cents, and Yahoo. I am currently an author on HubPages.
Most of what I write takes a lot of research and I love it. Even if it is a fictional story, I will research for accuracy in whatever it takes to make my characters, their era, their location, etc. become realistic to the reader.
I hope you enjoy my works. Thank you for visiting.
- Ode to Voices in Desert Sands - August 14, 2023
- My Secluded Mountain Forest Nook - July 24, 2023
- My Cozy Log Cabin in the Woods - July 22, 2023
I love this poem you balanced beautiful and well crafted imagery with the allegory of the fence. An enjoyable read! Jamie
Thank you so much, Jamie. I appreciate it.
Delightful poem Phyllis. It brought many memories.
Thank you, Rasma. Glad it brought many memories, that is what I was striving for – nostalgic sentiments. I had my homeland, the Pacific Northwest, in mind when I wrote the poem, and I am sure it could remind us of many places around the world. Take care.
Sometimes I think you can read my mind Phyllis. Lovely and delightful..
Ah! hahaha – we do often think alike, Kurt. Thank you for that comment that lifts my spirit. Take care.