B egan noticing, after walking for more than an hour, the forest started looking very familiar. I was certain I’d never before trekked this section of old growth. I had this “feeling” I had. I was curious.
After walking another ten minutes, my sense of familiarity with this part of the forest was increasing. I decided to try an experiment. Making certain it was out of sight, I built a small formation trailside, using some twigs, at the base of a beautiful redwood, that soared into the canopy.
We walked another half hour. I couldn’t shake my suspicion that we were retracing our steps — and there it was, my formation. I called to our guide, “where’re we going, and where the hell are we?” His reply, “crucial to finding the way is this: there is no beginning or end.” Damnit, I knew it — we’re lost!
rob kistner © 2021
Poetry at: dVerse
Ooooo! It sounds like a nightmare, Rob! Excellent. ????
Thank you Merril… 🙂 No matter, always find my way — eventually!
Listening to Nora made me not mind you were walking in circles!!
We are all walking in circles Bev, some larger than others, some more interesting, some less – stardust to stardust.
…and go round and round and round….
A tale & a half, Rob. If I ever get stuck in a similar situation, I hope it’s in the same environment. Well done. AND: you always pick the PERFECT vids. I just heard the Supertramp cut this afternoon while cruising with My Beloved Sandra, being in no particular rush to return. Aaaahhhh…thanks!
Thank you Ron. Try to find tunes that reflect to some degree what I’ve written.
I love it so much that you add music to your wonderful poems and stories; Norah is one of my favorites.
Glad you enjoyed such Shawna — I love music, and it’s fun to try to mirror, to some extent, the essence of what I wrote.
And as long as the circles you’re walking make a spiral, you are heading in the direction of rebirth, something well worth traveling toward.
I think once is enough for me Shawna. I have the feeling my life energy is going to simply be absorbed back into the cosmic energy pool — at least I hope so.
At least you were aware of it and did something about it. Good story with an unexpected ending.
Thank you Lisa! Too many people allow themselves to get led in circles, and do nothing. Always keep your eyes open.
Yes indeed… never trust a guide who is lost! Seems like a good philosophy for life!! Well done!
Thanks Dwight! Guide must have been a politician, leading them in circles… 🙂
Nice. You’ve described this so well. I think I’ve had an experience like this. I love the puzzled expressions of the people in the photo.
Thanks Susan! Thought the picture was telling the same story… 🙂
Rob,
Funny how our unconscious picks up that feeling of going around in circles long before we consciously acknowledge it. You brought that across beautifully.
Pax,
Dora
We inherently know what’s real, even if consciously we have not yet come to grips.
Very clever take! I enjoyed this very much. I hope that the way was found.
Hope he does as well M Jay! 🙂
Rob – the last line really made me chuckle!
heheheheh
-David
Yeah David “Damnit, I knew it, We’re lost!”
Nice take on the prompt! At least you ended up ‘simply’ lost. I was worried the guide might have a sinister motive…
After having just written the intense psycho-thriller poem “Love’s Requiem” a couple days ago, I am staying away ftom sinister motives for a while Ingrid. I kinds freaked myself out writing that one.
Clever use of the prompt! Did this really happen to you? If so, what a clever thing to do to insure you were not simply going in the proverbial circles! …. except you were!
Thank you Lillian, but only happened in my imagination — although I have bern lost a couple hours in old growth wilderness on Oregon’s Mt. Hood a number of years ago, hiking with my wife Kathy. We found our way out at sunset.
I hope by now you’re found again!
I wandered back out of my imagination to safety Kerfe… 🙂
Rob, if you and I are going to get lost in the forest … it may as well be Oregon or Washington! Cheers to getting lost.
I choose Oregon Helen, though it is beautiful in Washington!
Ha… if anything to know that there is no end is a clear sign that the guide doesn’t know the way… just imagine that the next thing he says is: it’s not where we are going that matters but the journey itself.
HaHaHa. LOL …that is funny Bjorn… 😉 🙂 yes, wouldn’t that be a kick in the pants… 🙂
Love this- a brilliant portrayal of how easily one can become lost if not careful. I’d say the guide had no idea what he was doing. Perhaps we should leave him stranded and depend on instinct. 😀
Yes. Sanaa. Especially when following a fool… 🙂
I smell a refund!
Ken… 🙂
Haha…did not see that coming. I liked the element of suspense building up to the light hearted ending.
Just keepin’ it light Mish. Keepin’ things in balance with my piece “Love’s Requiem” — which definitely is not light.
Rob: putting this comment here…I hope you see it quickly. I read your post for OLN (and it was fascinating)! I was so caught up in it….it could be made into a movie! And then I went to comment and it says the site is closed to comments. Can you check that? I’m sure many will want to comment on it. Just and amazing post!
Thank you so much Lillian! I have corrected the problem.
Life is a circle
a cycle of green to brown to green
what we see and see again
because we missed it the first time.
I don’t usually respond with a poem but you inspired me.
That is beautiful Ali, and I am honored to have sparked your poetic response. To add a line to your wonderful piece — “or sadly, too late goes unseen”