I enter the woods and trespass through the quiet gates I see my life in one leaf as it falls through the light and I go about soliciting the mystery of this place The deep beauty of the woods prosecutes me with autumn fire as it burns to the core of what I am branding my bones with finality The trees stand tall and in the their own shadows are the keepers of the law
I find a deer trail among the trees and follow these graceful creatures down to a stream where I can be found loitering among my dreams The rustling water purls over the rocks to a still pool where I find my divine face mirrored in the splendor of who I truly am I am no longer the offender in this place in the woods where I kneel at the bank and cup my hands to drink the icy water
I have become the freedom of the water I sing .
Bruce Owens has been writing poetry for 50 years. One of his poems appeared in the Robinson Jeffers Newsletter (No. 93 & 94, Winter & Spring) in tribute to friend, and fellow poet William Everson. He has been a guest lecturer at various colleges in California, lecturing on the nature of the creative process, and he has conducted poetry workshops, mainly with young adults, especially those struggling with various addictions or having come from an abusive household, using poetry as an instrument of discovery for both self, and as an entry into the world around us. His collection of poems: Eddies in the Rush (ISBN 0-971256-0-0 [149 pg.]) was endorsed by C.C. Bailey and poet William Stafford (1914-1993) a "National Book Award recipient." You can learn more about Bruce on his Facebook page here: Bruce Owens Poetry