To watch me read Above It All: CLICK HERE
~
way up high among the branches
in a tall tall stilt-house
several observation platforms
at different landings
as you climb the stairs
that zig zag
into the forest canopy
* motorized lift optional
a three-story stilt-house
by a rippled cerulean mountain lake
huge wrap around porches
on each floor
the top level
a place I could write
create my mixed-media art
one huge open room
where my wife too
could have her fiberart studio
her prep and assembly tables
and her big Toika loom
the roof — one big deck
from which to see
far as the eye could see
so very liberating
exhilarating
riding out big storms
like flying
but anchored secure
our stilt-house made of wood
recycled planked woods
redwood
maple
teak
and anodized aluminums
leathers
stones
lots of tempered crystal-clear acrylic
we’d feed all things that fly
eagles
osprey
hawks
birds
a place high up
in the sun-dappled canopy
where we’d live — work — laugh
crank up our music and dance
all in the nude
if we wanted
make love
windows wide open
hearts wide open
minds wide open
the sun and breeze
dreams and worries
free to come and go
I want to live free
high among the redwood trees
where we could both truly be
above it all
rob kistner © 2020
To check out more poems at dVerse: CLICK HERE
wow what a delightful image you paint Rob, just to walk among them would be amazing for me!
Hope your dream comes true and if not that your home is your temple, forest or not …
Thank you Kate. I am chuckling to myself. This poem is for OLN. I didn’t realized I published already. I thought I was holding it in draft. Oh well…
Very Nice Rob! And you have a wonderful voice for reading poetry.
Thank you Linda… 🙂 I have been a bit heavy and kinda dark in my last few poems. Thought I would lighten it a little.
Being a huge fan of trees, I would love to join you in the redwoods, Rob – your tree house sounds fantastic, especially the optional motorised lift! Maybe in my dreams. I can imagine star watching on the big roof deck and feeding the birds.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful… Covid and asshats be damned! You could find my body, still smiling, high high up in the forest canopy, overlooking the lake.
Rob, you are an artist. Whether light or dark themes, you always deliver an aspect to your poetry that lingers, that makes me deep into thought. The first few lines reminded me of Longtime Sunshine by Weezer and this stanza too:
“a three-story stilt-house
huge wrap around porches
on each floor”
The song is very depressing and freeing in some ways. It contrasts with the light tone of your piece. I’ll share the lyric verse that I found a similar connection to here:
“Sometimes
I wanna build a house
With a wood stove
Or a fireplace
In the middle
Of the living room
An old piano”
Anyway, this is remarkable writing. I enjoyed reading your work!
Thank you Lucy! Your graciousness humbles me. I love to write and I love to sing. My rock band days are way behind me now — given age and health. I try to bring that performance mindedness into my reading. It is great fun! I will definitely give that Weezer tune a listen out of curiosity… 🙂
I immediately thought of Tolkein’s Lothlórien, especially as visualized in the LOTR movies: but you make it more personal and much more evocative of a freedom of expression, thought, movement, romance, and the unburdened life. Simply beautiful, Rob!
Thank you Dora. What I didn’t include is it would be by a mountain lake… if I’m gonna dream, I oughta go BIG! 😉
It would be a dream house, Rob, even if only a dream.
At this rate Jane, dreams are where I am spending my ending time here on earth. Hope it’s an extended time… 😉
Incredible daydreaming and projecting. What you describe is an artist’s paradise. I smile because I’ve always had a similar dream, of erecting three geodesic domes, connected by covered hallways, with a wide deck covering it all, with raised bed gardens, green houses, and solar panels. Rising out of the middle, an apex writer’s tower, a 100′ tall, 2,000 square feet of writing room and studio for art projects, and a small home theater with a wall screen. Oh, and I would buy a small island in the San Juans to build it on. Your readings are wonderful; thanks for the extra effort.
Thank you brother! We could be neighbors, and shout and wave to one another. 😉
Oh to live in the trees like this! A dream come true. Climbing high and between on zig zag steps! On your live reading, I think the end of your poem was cut off.
This stilt-house is a long-held dream of mine. Thought I’d share it.., 😉 You had that happen to you before on another of my readings I believe — but I promise you Lisa, it’s all there, and plays fine for me and I believe for others. I am sorry, I can’t explain why you are having this issue? Perhaps it is an intermittent thing with WordPress. I have the latest version installed — but between WordPress and Blogger, I don’t know who I trust least!?
What a lovely place this would be! Thanks for sharing–and I love your reading, too.
I’d invite everyone over, and we’d share our poetry. I might even sing, if I can get some folks to join me… 🙂
I would like that too – it would be wonderful.
Anna :o]
Wouldn’t it be lovely Ann!? 🙂
A Utopian wish I can definitely relate to! What a wonderful place this would be. Above it all…..soaring but firmly anchored just the same. GLORIOUS! I want to be there!
You are invited Lillian, as soon as I can find a tree… 😉
Oh I could live in any nearby (not TOO nearby) tree, RK. but on mine, the motorized lift would be mandatory, not optional.
You make this real, Brother. Thanks.
You are most welcome Ron. I am certain there are a couple appropriate trees out there somewhere! The motorized lift us there for anyone — especially me… 😉
Oh Rob, this was wonderful. It reminded me so much of my very favorite poem call “Vagabond House” by Don Blanding, who was a poet of the 50’s and 60s. You MUST read it!
https://www.poetrynook.com/poem/vagabond-house
Thank you Beverly, I definitely will… 🙂 …thank you for sharing it!
Thank you again Bev. I just finished that beautiful epic you shared. Makes me want to fully finish my dream house — but I’d feel I was competing, and my dream house must bring peace — so it will remain a minimalist structure. 🙂
well done rob. the poem disappeared and i was there in the trees with you!
Cool! I am glad it drew you in…
That sounds heavenly Rob. May it come to pass…
Thank you Kerfe… 🙂
I love your vision of a stilt house where you can let your minds and artistic impulses run free. It’s good to dream, and I also like the contrast with your previous poem, which is more of a nightmare scenario but unfortunately the truth for many.
The contrast was for my sanity Ingrid. Little balance… 🙂
Incredible wishing… it sounds ‘loverly’
Oh, wouldn’t it be Debi… 🙂
I thoroughly enjoyed your reading, Rob! Your words are beautiful and the last line is perfect. Living above it all, in mind and spirit. The desire is a big first. I see all the metaphor in elevating ourselves.
Thank you Tricia. You gleaned my bigger picture vision of elevating/uplifting one’s creative soul and physical body.
I may have to commandeer the guest space …… nicely done, Rob.
Thank you Helen… 🙂
dreams and worries
free to come and go
What it would tally into, is the aura of freedom much sought to be with the one love that one adores. Great wordcraft Rob!
Hank
Most idyllic — yes! 🙂 Thank you Hank.
I also love trees! Beautiful poetry! Oh, to live beyond all of it is everyone’s dream!
Trees are magic Mary. Trees and bees keep the world and we human’s alive.