Lillian here, writing our prompt for Poetics Tuesday at dVerse, the virtual pub for poets around the globe. And first, A HUGE THANK YOU to Kim of North Norfolk in the UK, for tending to the pub as I am having surgery on my right shoulder.

So to get into the prompt for today, one thing I learned about when we visited Japan a number of years ago, was their tradition of forest bathing, shinrin-yoku. It’s the practice of spending time in nature, particularly in forests, to improve one’s health and well-being. Ever since my husband of 55+ years introduced me to tent camping when we first married, I’ve loved the woods. I love the many and diverse shades of green; the different kinds of trees; the smell of pines; the beauty of moss and ferns on the forest’s floor; the patterns of sunshine that can come through the trees when they are full-leafed. For me, there’s a tremendous calming effect of, yes, bathing in the serenity and beauty of the woods.

One of the poems I remember from high school eons ago was this one by Robert Frost:

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

Whose woods these are I think I know.   
His house is in the village though;   
He will not see me stopping here   
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

So you’ve probably guessed it by now. For today’s Poetics, I’d like you to write a poem that somehow mentions, is set in, or is motivated by the woods / forest. You may use one of the photos below from our travels as motivation if you’d like.

Kim will be reading and responding to all of your posts….and once I’m feeling better, I’ll be sure to look back at them as well.

New to dVerse? Here’s how to participate in our Tuesday Poetics:

* Write a poem that either mentions the woods/forest, is set in a woods, or is motivated by one of the three images above.

*Put your poem on your blog and link back to this post.

*Link it up to our Mr. Linky below.

*Remember to check the little box to accept use/privacy policy.

*Be sure to Tag dVerse or mention dVerse so others can find our site and join in the creativity.

*Visit other blogs and poems you’ll find on Mr. Linky. Enjoy some amazing poets. Comment. Come back later this week and write another one, and visit some more and comment some more.