Along This Path, as read by Stephen Fuller, the first hiking poem of the season
Along this path, over winter, limbs,
Branches and whole trees fell.
It looks as though this has been
Happening for years, some logs
Brittle as you recall wood gets
When left alone to rot.
Rot it does not though,
I have learned in winter.
If I were strong enough, (I may be),
If I were still in need to disrupt
Life, I’d turn over one that fell
Only to discover bugs and worms
And worlds that might have been
A dream for the boy I was.
Now, I allow them to be a dream
For the man I have become.
It was not the rot I sought
But these worlds to start
Underneath felled branches,
Limbs and whole trees.
Along this path, this life
I do not need to disturb
Only know of for the boy I was
To have proof of his existence.
I often wonder at the terror those bugs, salamanders, etc must feels when their whole house is lifted off of them. Poor things. And yet I do feel it’s good for kids to discover them and be mindful as long as they gently put everything back and don’t harm nor further disturb. Lovely poem!
Thank you! I think there is a totally eeeewwww gross factor that the kids love. My childhood was more doing the equivalent in tide pools… adult me though has retreated to the woods. Thanks for reading and liking!
You’re welcome! Yeah, in my house we even appreciate the creepy crawlies, so I’m training my kids to respect them as well. I didn’t have tide pools, but I did have woods….still the most peaceful place I know. Enjoy! And you’re so welcome!
Fullbeard Lit 
18 Responses to “Along This Path, a Five O’Clock Poem by Stephen Fuller with Audio”
I often wonder at the terror those bugs, salamanders, etc must feels when their whole house is lifted off of them. Poor things. And yet I do feel it’s good for kids to discover them and be mindful as long as they gently put everything back and don’t harm nor further disturb. Lovely poem!
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Thank you! I think there is a totally eeeewwww gross factor that the kids love. My childhood was more doing the equivalent in tide pools… adult me though has retreated to the woods. Thanks for reading and liking!
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You’re welcome! Yeah, in my house we even appreciate the creepy crawlies, so I’m training my kids to respect them as well. I didn’t have tide pools, but I did have woods….still the most peaceful place I know. Enjoy! And you’re so welcome!
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I have no complaints about either one and am thrilled to find myself part of it all again. 🙏🙏🙏
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It’s wonderful to be involved in nature!
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Truth
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Beautiful ethereal powerful as close to describing the sacredness of creation as I’ve read in a long time. Thanks for sharing friend xo be well
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Wow, this is like high praise to me, MB, thank you so much. 🤓
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Thank you friend for sharing with us be on the look out to my next offering at midnight West Coast time I hope you will be pleasantly surprised X
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👍👍👍
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[…] to my friend Stephen @ https://fullbeardlit.org/2020/04/08/along-this-path-a-five-oclock-poem-by-stephen-fuller-with-audio for inspiring this […]
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Beautiful and powerful response and 1000 thanks, friend.
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Excellent!
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Thank you so much d.a.. 🙏🙏🙏
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You are most welcome 🙂
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I really enjoyed this reflection on leaving and becoming through the metaphor fallen logs. Very nicely done.
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Thank you, hiking/walking rarely happens without a poem emerging from the pondering steps
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I’ve had the same experience.
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