Here, Among the Oaks and Pines
by Vaughn Neeld

The woods are lovely, dark and deep–Robert Frost

Within the hush of these woods,
so dark and deep, the lovely light
of late September lances through
deepening shadows, highlighting
here, green cushions of moss,
here, sprinkles of withered grass.

Pausing, I sit upon an ancient stump,
reflect on life’s conundrums
among earth's secret paths,
here, within the dusk of deep, dark woods,
here, among chittering squirrels and twittering wrens.

This inner glade is my covert cathedral
among the oaks and pines,
here, where I offer up a silent prayer,
here, in the woods, so lovely,
here, in the woods, so dark,    so deep.