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Open Poetry #28
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Just A Forest North Of Nowhere
| Open Poetry #28 |
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Just A Forest North Of Nowhere |
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Mysteria 
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada 
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Personal Note: Very early this morning I had the opportunity to take a helicopter ride up to the interior of B.C. with my old boss's partner to see the damage done by fire up there. To say it is devastating, seems not enough! This is going to cripple lumber trade with the US for some time I am sure, not to mention the loss of wildlife, nature, and the dreams of those young couples who have lost their homes hoping to live in paradise. This is for all of us here who treasured what we have lost.  Just A Forest North Of Nowhere We stumbled on you by accident, Yet each year found us watching you. Velvety needled coated saplings, So young, and so hearty, Each bearing pungent needles, Reaching out for someone’s touch. A swipe of a branch repelled insect bites, While the sum of your parts Impregnated the air with clean. Majestic branches spread in pride Held you safe to her trunk Close to the gifts of Mother’s tears. You swayed in every delicate breeze, Bowed to powers of the wind, Resilient and steadfast you grew In strength, beauty, and magnificence.  Years of endurance, so steadfast, Limbs groaning up and out Stretching baby skin To replace it with rugged bark, Creviced with so many scars Nature and man carved over seasons. From a distance The grace of your every movement, Moved us. We swayed in each whispered breeze For a moment we became one. We entered you and we are one.  Such beauty evolved over time Nature’s elements shaping Each and every needle, branch, cone Making you unique, special. Those once shapeless saplings Now seasoned with enchanting elegance That only time can sculpt. How many have seen and felt This place as I did once.  Today full of sorrow I came, Knowing you were gone All I can say is, "Thank you!" Excerpt from the Globe and Mail Friday, September 5, 2003 VANCOUVER — The forest fires burning in British Columbia's southern Interior may have damaged trees worth as much as $5.6-billion as finished lumber, a leading industry organization said yesterday. Preliminary estimates by the Council of Forest Industries (COFI) indicate that the fires have affected 14 billion board feet of lumber. That amount that is equivalent to 75 per cent of Canada's softwood shipments to the United States last year. http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20030905.fire05/BNStory/Business/ ?query=fires I don't want to know where I am heading, it will spoil my journey. Carpe' Diem [This message has been edited by Mysteria (09-05-2003 05:33 PM).] |
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| © Copyright 2003 Mysteria 1997 - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Earth Angel Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215Realms of Light |
Something struck me when I saw the firefighter with face blackened with soot--the hazzard to the lungs of all the brave and courageous people fighting the fires on the front lines! I can imagine it is like smoking several packs of cigarettes per day! A powerful post--poetically and visually. The ramifications of these fires in the BC interior will be further reaching than can be imagined. Rain, rain, and more rain, Linda |
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angelblueyes Member Elite
since 2003-07-19
Posts 2148Oklahoma |
This pulled at my heart.For the forest natures ground being destroyed and the lives of all who help fight this being put in jepoardy.This is an insight to a tragic thing.May the rain shower down and revive this forset soon. Crystal |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
It's so sad to see such devastation - Not only for the forest, but for the wildlife lost within. International trade will recuperate in a timely manner - The loss to Nature will not do so quickly - This is a wonderful poem, Sharon...  [This message has been edited by Nan (09-05-2003 03:05 PM).] |
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Endlessecho Member
since 2003-09-05
Posts 398I live within myself |
How much more real can it get? Beautiful peice. It helps when we can put those experiences to words. At least, we can offer that. Thank you for the read. |
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Kaoru
since 2003-06-07
Posts 3892where the wild flowers grow |
The trees look so helpless... |
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Enchantress Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113Canada eh. |
So very sad Sharon... the devastation... They are calling for rain I believe this weekend.. I'll keep you all in my prayers... Stay safe! ~Heart Hugs, Nancy~ ~ Summer can't be over... |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
You pitched the screams well, Mysteria. I know the loss by fire...I feel the echo of loss for both plant, and animal. Sadly, well done. |
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garysgirl
since 2002-09-29
Posts 19237Florida, USA |
Oh Sharon, this touches me so much I am speechless. I just don't know what to say, it's so sad. Stay safe and from harm, sweet lady. Ethel |
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JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
Nice...it will come back...sad that it takes so long...James |
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Bill Charles Member Patricius
since 2000-07-11
Posts 10619highways, & byways, for now |
Mysteria - I have seen many of these fires with my eyes and it's devastating. I've been to Barriere, Chase, McClure, Kelowna, etc. It's like a horror show... BC |
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Paul Wilson
since 2002-07-07
Posts 4711United States |
Mysteria...This is so very sad. If I could cry you a river of tears too put out the flames I would gladly do it...Paul "To share my poems with you is to share my heart with you" |
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Mistletoe Angel
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816Portland, Oregon |
 (big hugggssssssss) Oh Sharon, I know this horror ever so well as we have many fires here in Colorado too annually and my heart goes out to you and all the residents of British Columbia in hope all that hasn't been devasted can be protected and maybe in the near future the ecosystem can reuperate! (wipes tears) God Bless You, sweet friend, I send rain hugs your way, we all love you so much! You have such a beautiful heart, sweet Sharon, thank you for sharing! May love and light always shine upon you! Love, Noah Eaton I don't need no proof when it comes to God and truth |
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NewEnglandlazurlu Member Rara Avis
since 2002-01-04
Posts 7470A Mountain Paradise |
Sharon, as one who loves the forest hugs trees and feels the earth, I feel the pain of this destruction and of all who are suffering and will suffer for years to come. Such a tearful and gutwrenching calamity and my words cannot adequately express my sorrow. This is indeed a sad, sad horror. I will pray for downpour rains and that lives be spared. God bless the firefighters and God bless you sweet friend ... Marti |
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Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
Thank you all for the kindness in your hearts towards the devasting situation here in B.C. Bill Charles is right up there around where it is and I worry for all of you up there as well. Take care, as what I saw today will never, ever be forgotten. God bless those firefighters, you had to have seen them to believe the job they are doing. Thanks again for reading and feeling for these people, animals, trees, fish, lakes, rivers, and the once picturesque land that has been destroyed. |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Sharon...I know the sadness of this.  |
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wandering glider Senior Member
since 2001-04-04
Posts 501aloft |
Then there is the US Administration's instant gratification solution to forest fires . . . give it to the lumber industry. Cut down what's left and it can't burn. But the brush will continue to burn, which is the real problem, not the big trees. I could go on, but maybe another time . . . Sorry for the loss, Mysteria. glider |
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BluesSerenade Member Patricius
since 2001-10-23
Posts 10549By the Seaside |
Fire is a disaster of the worst kind, and yet you have brought it to life, and driven it home, and for that I thank you. Bless you Sharon, and the land where you live. |
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Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
Martie, you've had your share of sorrow down there too, thank you for caring. Wandering Glider - you are so right, and we are aware what will happen - it is the root system fires that are causing all the problems, so we will see what the government does. Thank you. Bluesy - You are so special - the kindness of your reply has warmed my heart today, thank you. |
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Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
Sharon, the continued destruction leaves me numb. In this piece, you've captured an aspect of this devastation which is haunting, my friend. For all those who have walked through the carpeted forests and admired it's canopy of green ... the loss of what we once knew, is enormous. A beautiful, eerie and memorable write, Sharon. My parents did fly into Kelowna over a week ago. Mom has written several times to keep us up to date. Her friends where they are staying are OK, however friends of theirs have been evacuated yet again for the second or third time. On Thursday, they got a call from the others from a Wal-Mart in Kelowna to say they had been evacuated - only the night before, they said they stood and watched the flames 2 kilometers away racing across the mountain. She also wrote that they were over near Chase where more fires were breaking out. She got some pictures. They saw 3 water bombers taking off and landing at a river across the highway and said the smoke was much heavier that day. I hope you get some kind of relief soon out there. You take care of you. In the meantime, my thoughts and prayers go out to all in the area. Best wishes and hugs, /Kit [This message has been edited by Kit McCallum (09-06-2003 07:38 AM).] |
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littlewing Member Rara Avis
since 2003-03-02
Posts 9655New York |
Good God Sharon What awful tragedy! and I am glad you have brought it here for us to see, the beauty to recognize maybe . . . to cherish what we have in the NOW these lines are so precious: While the sum of your parts Impregnated the air with clean. I smelled it when I read . . . God priceless xxoo |
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Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
Oh, my heart breaks with this one, Sharon. |
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Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
Was supposed to rain today, so far no sign of it, so I think the entire province is in a silent kind of prayer today. It is hard to even imagine what happened throughout history with no fire retardant, water bombers, firefighters enmasse, simply amazing trees still stand at all in my mind. Thanks for your kind empathy, and Kit thanks for checking in about Mom and Dad |
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passing shadows Member Empyrean
since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577displaced |
 so sad, so damn sad |
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Carpe' Diem
