Cathedral Grove, Muir Woods National Monument
‘And this our life,
exempt from public haunt,
finds tongues in the trees,
books in the running brooks,
sermons in stones, and good in everything.’ *
An odyssey across the continent
San Francisco fantasia of Venetian art, nature and myth
by myself but not alone as I
leave the death of the possible behind
Alive now only to your declaration of love
absorbing Titian’s inspiration from the poesie
intoxicated by the allure of Danaë’s seduction, Zeus’ invisible presence
a shower of gold in a world blessed with perpetual flowers
Arriving radiant as Tintoretto’s Susanna
luminously beautiful and ripe
thoughts of Venice navigate the canals of my mind
preparing me for our children, spinning their sacred story
I took the tranquil path, paid a mythic price
long years pining for our fated meeting
I traversed the stone bridges of the garden
meandered on a winding journey into the woods
Amidst 1000 year old trees, fog permeates
patiently I wait for you to write the stories,
inscribe your legacy within my body,
echoing these immortal helices through the millennia
*Shakespeare
Chromapoetica 
so very beautiful
Thank you so much Janet =).
So good to see a poem from you again Anna–and a poem like this, even a thousand times better. Just beautiful soaring words that fill the heart with music. I won’t dissect it–it’s too good for that–just say every line builds on its predecessor and exceeds it. Freedom and love will always belong in San Francisco, and in the grove you plant for us here.
Thanks Joy, I do so love San Francisco. I would’ve left my heart there but I knew I’d need it later :). So good to make the rounds tonight and I loved your Villanelle!
You really sold me on the piece by opening with one of my favorite excerpts from Shakespeare! This is amazing Anna. I have Favorited and will return to read again. ♥
Kellie
Thank you Kellie, can’t ever beat Shakespeare for an opening act :).
Wonderful verses, filled with your unique vocabulary. So good to hear from you. I hope the odyssey goes well…
Thank you Steve, so far the sojourn has been inspiring, healing, and full of magnificent art and natural beauty.
nice…was wondering if we would see you…i can see the trip has been good to you and inspiring…very nicely done anna..enjoyed the read and you bring it to life as only you can…
I finally arrived somewhere early enough and with unlimited internet access. I haven’t gotten to the point where I can read and write blogs easily on my phone yet :). Thank you.
Wow… this is stunning, absolutely. I was enchanted with every line. Amazing write from you Anna.
Thank you very kindly Daydreamertoo; it’s nice to be back at dVerse.
I was afraid your road trip might meant no poems from you for a few weeks and so I’m certainly glad to see one from you today. 🙂 Inspiring write, epic awe and spirit hungry to explore and take in the sights. 1000 year old trees — how magnificent they are and how awesome it must be to be among them.
It’s so nice to know that it matters if I post or not so thank you especially for that :). Yes, I’ve been to California many times and always find time to sit with the ancient trees. There are some amazing places to see them much further north of San Francisco too.
Welcome to the Golden State! Sounds like you have undertaken a mythic journey amid the grandeur of the tongues of the Old Trees and the murmurs of the deep fogs. May you find “tongues in the trees, books in the running brooks, sermons in stones.” And especially “good in everything.”
We live toward the other end of California, but have known the incredible joys of camping amid the redwoods and the sequoias. Enjoy!
Thank you Charles, beautiful country you have here. I hope you are healing well and send lots of good energy your way.
beauty in words and ideas. a romatic side that I so enjoyed. the last two stanzas are esp magical.
Thank you Sheila, I never indulged my romantic side until recently so I’m happy you’ve enjoyed it.
I really like the last stanza where your voice comes thru loud, strong, and proud. I love Venice too and enjoyed your remembrance of it.
Thank you, I got a great book on the history of Venice through painting while at an art museum in SF which inspired the connections.
seems you are quite on a journey anna…inward and outward… travel light my friend..curious where your way will lead you..
There’s a great story in Egyptian myth that one day I will attempt to do justice in poetry about the final passage between this life and the next. In it, the gods weigh your heart, which must be lighter than a feather to allow you to travel to the afterlife. Thank you, I am trusting God will lead me to a new home. Right now I’m enjoying the freedom of the open road though not so much the price of hotels in LA :).
Exquisite work, Anna– clearly writtten with a full heart. xxxj http://parolavivace.blogspot.com
Thank you Jenne, I look forward to reading your offering today!
Welcome back, friend — And thanks for this love letter to a myth, to the mystery of history and vice versa, for these verses carved like scrimshaw on an old soul. There truly may be only one great song, repeated again again in the various mouths of so many generations, all the way back to when Hermes (or some other primordial function of rapture at the world) sang the first song, a paean to the creator of such wild beloved creation. Keep up the journey. – Brendan
It’s good to be here Brendan, thank you very much for your insight and recognition. A long road trip is a great reminder that the world is ever bigger than our individual concerns and that spiritual possibility is available to us each day.
Oh this is strong and uplifting poetry Anna. You sound re invigorated. This I love:
by myself but not alone as I
leave the death of the possible behind
Wonderful horizons ahead. 🙂
Thank you Becky, I certainly hope so and will do my part in making those wonderful horizons a reality :)!
There is no art nor cathedral like nature. This is a glorious part of the world…I used to live in the Bay Area.
So true, thank you Victoria, I’m happy to know you’ve see the glory of the area.
Beautifully inspirational. Full of hope and promise. Love the Century reference, the mythic allusions, Zeus, of course, Venice, the Bridge:) A path to promise. Loved the piece. And the image and overlay of the redwoods is majestic and beautiful. Thanks.
Thank you, I’ve been inspired a great deal lately :).
Beautiful words and a beauty of a photograph. I love the trees and the ancient ones seem especially wise.
Shakespeare made a great stepping off point and you ended this piece perfectly.
Thank you for sharing with us again and welcome to the Golden State…you’re not far from us. Enjoy your journey.
Thank you very much Joanne. I’ll be leaving the state tomorrow, after a week of joy, and will miss it terribly.
Love this and love Muir woods. when I was there I found such peace to be there.
Yes, it’s a magical place. Thank you for reading; I’ll be by soon to read yours (on the road I find it’s sometimes difficult to connect).
Merry Christmas Anna to u n your family… may this b the happiest of all !!
PS: been busy lately dear n will b busy 4 some more time.. will b back soon… Till then take care n Enjoyy
Thank you Jyoti for the kind holiday wishes! I hope your schedule lightens a little in the new year and I look forward to visiting your site soon :).
Dearest Lovely Anna, who has been to Utah and now is enjoying one of my all-time favorite cities, San Francisco.
Shakespeare continues to move us. How beautiful!
I love how you always bring the ancient and literary into your poem journies.
And I’m off to make YOUR sidebar button now.
xoxo
Thank you Jannie, a sidebar, how wonderful! I’ll be by to read your work soon :)!
Excellent, indeed! Some wonderful lines like “leave the death of the possible behind” and evocative references to some great art and the beauty of nature!
Thank you, very nice to see you again! I’m behind in my reading but will try to catch up soon.
ah I do love your writes – they’re creative, and creative is exactly what I look for in a write! this is no exception, love that shakespeare quote! and this is such a clever write too, loved the first stanza – this – “leave the death of the possible behind” – is great! ah I see you have a facebook page too, blogger is rubbish for keeping up to date with wordpresses, so I’ll click on that so I don’t miss these great writes! nice work!
Thank you, how kind of you to say. I need to get by and read what you’ve been writing!
revisiting beautiful imagery.
:)!