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Lost in the forest


Eucalypt Forest, Gardens of Stone National Park

See how the eucalypts have changed again. This type of forest reminds me of the Fredrick McCubbin painting "Lost"

Words to walk with:
Lost in the forest by Pablo Neruda
"Lost in the forest, I broke off a dark twig
and lifted its whisper to my thirsty lips:
maybe it was the voice of the rain crying,
a cracked bell, or a torn heart.
Something from far off it seemed
deep and secret to me, hidden by the earth,
a shout muffled by huge autumns,
by the moist half-open darkness of the leaves.

Wakening from the dreaming forest there, the hazel-sprig
sang under my tongue, its drifting fragrance
climbed up through my conscious mind

as if suddenly the roots I had left behind
cried out to me, the land I had lost with my childhood---
and I stopped, wounded by the wandering scent."

Comments

  1. I never tire of seeing your photos of the eucalypt forests ... this one is another great shot.

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  2. I have that McCubbin hanging on my mantel. The film "Il Postino" introduced me to Neruda whom I have admired ever since. Well, him and his translators.

    I love the way he uses "autumn" here.

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  3. Bernie, thanks. I am getting more and more fascinated by the forest and its subtle changes.

    Julie, I have only just discovered Neruda. What I have seen I like.

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  4. Fascinating place for me - I've never seen such a forest (I mean eucalypt), and thanks for Neruda. To be honest I used to read him much more years ago.
    Greetings:)

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  5. I came back to this post tonight after skimming over it when it was first published. The poem by Neruda is so beautiful. I recently bought Collected Works of his and am ashamed to say I have not taken the time to start reading it. Too many blogs to read and post to. Sigh.

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