photo by Martin Cathrae‘The Woods Have Waited Anxiously’: A Poem by Roy E. Peterson The Society April 16, 2024 Beauty, Poetry 41 Comments . The Woods Have Waited Anxiously The woods have waited anxiously for me to reappear. I left them when the snow piled high in fall of late last year. The tree trunks have another ring while branches reach for air. What changes have transpired since last fall when I tread there? The brook from which I took a drink is flowing peacefully. The fearful frogs I often watch are hopping gracefully. I take a seat to rest awhile on outcropped stony perch To see the sights and sense the sounds as if I were in church. I sit in silent solitude and watch the woods revive. The nests the birds in winter left, again they are alive. The cheeping of the chickadee, the raucousness of raven, Announce arrival of their chicks endearingly engraven. The woodland petals search for sunrays everywhere I turn And then I spy a dragonfly upon a fawning fern. A stirring in the underbrush—could it be fox or rabbit? Some silly squirrels sit on their tush in trees that they inhabit. Thus, Nature nimbly nurtures changes spread throughout my springs. I must return to woodland wonders that the summer brings. I set off on my path again and thank the leafing trees. As if to wave farewell to me, I feel a gentle breeze. . . LTC Roy E. Peterson, US Army Military Intelligence and Russian Foreign Area Officer (Retired) has published more than 5,000 poems in 78 of his 101 books. He has been an Army Attaché in Moscow, Commander of INF Portal Monitoring in Votkinsk, first US Foreign Commercial Officer in Vladivostok, Russia and Regional Manager in the Russian Far East for IBM. He holds a BA, Hardin-Simmons University (Political Science); MA, University of Arizona (Political Science); MA, University of Southern California (Int. Relations) and MBA University of Phoenix. He taught at the University of Arizona, Western New Mexico University, University of Maryland, Travel University and the University of Phoenix. NOTE TO READERS: If you enjoyed this poem or other content, please consider making a donation to the Society of Classical Poets. The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary. Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Trending now: 41 Responses Russel Winick April 16, 2024 A beautiful poem to wake up to, Roy. Great meter, rhyme, and imagery. Thanks for the read. Long may you enjoy your woods! Reply Roy Eugene Peterson April 16, 2024 Thank you, Russel. I have always loved the woods. Reply Julian D. Woodruff April 16, 2024 Good, Roy. The right attitude. I’m such a grouser–I must feel I deserve spring just the way I want it. If there are clouds, rain, or low temps, I start gnashing my teeth with pen in hand. Thanks for the pick-me-up. Reply Roy Eugene Peterson April 16, 2024 So glad you liked it. Reply Mark Stellinga April 16, 2024 Thanks, Roy – what a lovely bunch of mind-soothing visions you’ve captured here, sweet to wake up to – (8 a.m. here in Iowa). Another wonderful piece – Reply Roy Eugene Peterson April 16, 2024 Thank you, Mark, for the kind comments. My grandmother came from Carroll, Iowa. Reply Phil S. Rogers April 16, 2024 Roy; Enjoyed this poem immensely. With everything going on in the world I found it comforting. Its sense of renewed life and the wonders of nature is a breath of fresh air. Reply Roy Eugene Peterson April 16, 2024 Thank you, so much, Phil. Nature can be calming. Reply Warren Bonham April 16, 2024 I made the mistake of glancing at some headlines this morning. This poem helped calm things down afterward. I really liked the lines about the stony perch being likened to a church. Great work! Reply Roy Eugene Peterson April 16, 2024 I am glad you mentioned that line of the poem. One of my favorites. Reply Peg April 16, 2024 …sweet…flows beautifully… Thank you! Reply Roy Eugene Peterson April 16, 2024 Thank you for this, Peg. Reply Rohini April 16, 2024 A perfect jewel of a poem. Each of its many facets sparkle. Thank you for this splendid poem! Reply Roy Eugene Peterson April 16, 2024 Those are special comments. Thank you for sharing. Reply Cheryl Corey April 16, 2024 I especially enjoy “raucousness of raven” to rhyme with “engraven”; also, “fawning fern”. If I’m not mistaken, I believe that the Japanese refer to walking in the woods as “forest bathing”. You’ve now inspired me to go out for a walk. I may not be in the woods, but they surround me. Reply Roy Eugene Peterson April 16, 2024 Prescious comments, Cheryl. You are blessed to be surrounded by woods! Reply Brian A. Yapko April 16, 2024 This is a superb poem, Roy, which gave me great joy. I was charmed by the many woodsy images and I grinned at the image of silly squirrels “sitting on their tush” — a splendid internal rhyme with “underbrush” in the prior line. Well done! Reply Roy Eugene Peterson April 16, 2024 Thank you, Brian, for the kind comments. You are one of those rare readers who discovers hidden intricacies. Reply Sue gow April 16, 2024 It’s such a gem x my head is full of the pictures x thank you Reply Roy Eugene Peterson April 16, 2024 I appreciate the kind words, Sue. Thank you. Reply David Paul Behrens April 16, 2024 A beautiful poem. Thank you! Reply Roy Eugene Peterson April 16, 2024 Thank you for that, David! Reply Sally Cook April 16, 2024 I’ve always loved the woods, and the grove as well. Thanks for reminding me of the woods. Reply Roy Eugene Peterson April 16, 2024 That is a precious insight you shared, Sally! Thank you. Reply Paul Freeman April 16, 2024 Some lovely, nostalgic imagery. Thanks for the read. Reply Roy Eugene Peterson April 17, 2024 Thank you, Paul. Reply Gigi Ryan April 16, 2024 I just love it. (Woodland walks often give me a poem!) You bring out in a beautiful way the magical qualities of the woods. Perhaps the world be a better place if more people took walks in woods. Reply Roy Eugene Peterson April 17, 2024 Bless you and thank you, Gigi, for the wonderful thoughts. Reply Shamik Banerjee April 16, 2024 Apart from the scenic imagery, Mr. Peterson, the musicality of your piece is what steals the heart. From what you’ve described, the place appears to be peaceful and the perfect spot to sit and reconnect with nature. Is this place located directly by your home? Reply Roy Eugene Peterson April 17, 2024 Thank you. Unfortunately, these woods are not near my home, but I have lived in and near woods in many places over the years. In writing this poem I am reminded of them. Reply Margaret Coats April 17, 2024 “Tree trunks with another ring” is an invisible image that must be there, but cannot be seen. It indicates the slight but hardly measurable growth since last year. The tangible but unseen breeze concluding the poem is another subtle thing with which you suggest the many scarcely observable aspects of the woods. These help give a mysterious sense of wonder to your poem, Roy, corresponding to the scene’s “anxious waiting” for you as observer. Nice interplay of nature and spirit! Reply Roy Eugene Peterson April 17, 2024 Margaret, you have captured the synergy of the spirit with the wonders of nature as I intended. You have a beautiful soul and amazing analytical skills to delve into the mind of the poet. Reply James Sale April 17, 2024 Lovely work, Roy, very lovely – thanks! Reply Roy Eugene Peterson April 17, 2024 Thank you, James! That is very special coming from one so accomplished. Reply Casey Robb April 17, 2024 What an amazing poem with its easy rhythm, satisfying rhymes, and subtle alliterations. The woods come alive with all these exquisite details. I’m drawn right in and can see it clearly. Yes, the woods are like a cathedral. I like the personification of the woods “waiting anxiously” and the “petals search.” Thanks for sharing this fine work! Reply Roy Eugene Peterson April 17, 2024 I deeply appreciate your kind comments, Casey, and feel you have seen the woods through my eyes. Reply C.B. Anderson April 17, 2024 You get it, Roy: Every thicket a chapel, every forest a cathedral. Reply Roy Eugene Peterson April 17, 2024 Beautiful words, C.B. Thank you for sharing your special comments. Reply Paul A. Freeman April 17, 2024 Lovely poem, lovely title, lovely picture. Thanks for a nostalgic changing of seasons piece, Roy Reply Roy Eugene Peterson April 17, 2024 Thank you so much, Paul, for sharing those visions. Reply Norma Pain April 18, 2024 A most enjoyable morning read. Beautifully descriptive. Thank you Roy. Reply Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Notify me of new posts by email. Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Russel Winick April 16, 2024 A beautiful poem to wake up to, Roy. Great meter, rhyme, and imagery. Thanks for the read. Long may you enjoy your woods! Reply
Julian D. Woodruff April 16, 2024 Good, Roy. The right attitude. I’m such a grouser–I must feel I deserve spring just the way I want it. If there are clouds, rain, or low temps, I start gnashing my teeth with pen in hand. Thanks for the pick-me-up. Reply
Mark Stellinga April 16, 2024 Thanks, Roy – what a lovely bunch of mind-soothing visions you’ve captured here, sweet to wake up to – (8 a.m. here in Iowa). Another wonderful piece – Reply
Roy Eugene Peterson April 16, 2024 Thank you, Mark, for the kind comments. My grandmother came from Carroll, Iowa. Reply
Phil S. Rogers April 16, 2024 Roy; Enjoyed this poem immensely. With everything going on in the world I found it comforting. Its sense of renewed life and the wonders of nature is a breath of fresh air. Reply
Warren Bonham April 16, 2024 I made the mistake of glancing at some headlines this morning. This poem helped calm things down afterward. I really liked the lines about the stony perch being likened to a church. Great work! Reply
Roy Eugene Peterson April 16, 2024 I am glad you mentioned that line of the poem. One of my favorites. Reply
Rohini April 16, 2024 A perfect jewel of a poem. Each of its many facets sparkle. Thank you for this splendid poem! Reply
Cheryl Corey April 16, 2024 I especially enjoy “raucousness of raven” to rhyme with “engraven”; also, “fawning fern”. If I’m not mistaken, I believe that the Japanese refer to walking in the woods as “forest bathing”. You’ve now inspired me to go out for a walk. I may not be in the woods, but they surround me. Reply
Roy Eugene Peterson April 16, 2024 Prescious comments, Cheryl. You are blessed to be surrounded by woods! Reply
Brian A. Yapko April 16, 2024 This is a superb poem, Roy, which gave me great joy. I was charmed by the many woodsy images and I grinned at the image of silly squirrels “sitting on their tush” — a splendid internal rhyme with “underbrush” in the prior line. Well done! Reply
Roy Eugene Peterson April 16, 2024 Thank you, Brian, for the kind comments. You are one of those rare readers who discovers hidden intricacies. Reply
Sally Cook April 16, 2024 I’ve always loved the woods, and the grove as well. Thanks for reminding me of the woods. Reply
Gigi Ryan April 16, 2024 I just love it. (Woodland walks often give me a poem!) You bring out in a beautiful way the magical qualities of the woods. Perhaps the world be a better place if more people took walks in woods. Reply
Shamik Banerjee April 16, 2024 Apart from the scenic imagery, Mr. Peterson, the musicality of your piece is what steals the heart. From what you’ve described, the place appears to be peaceful and the perfect spot to sit and reconnect with nature. Is this place located directly by your home? Reply
Roy Eugene Peterson April 17, 2024 Thank you. Unfortunately, these woods are not near my home, but I have lived in and near woods in many places over the years. In writing this poem I am reminded of them. Reply
Margaret Coats April 17, 2024 “Tree trunks with another ring” is an invisible image that must be there, but cannot be seen. It indicates the slight but hardly measurable growth since last year. The tangible but unseen breeze concluding the poem is another subtle thing with which you suggest the many scarcely observable aspects of the woods. These help give a mysterious sense of wonder to your poem, Roy, corresponding to the scene’s “anxious waiting” for you as observer. Nice interplay of nature and spirit! Reply
Roy Eugene Peterson April 17, 2024 Margaret, you have captured the synergy of the spirit with the wonders of nature as I intended. You have a beautiful soul and amazing analytical skills to delve into the mind of the poet. Reply
Roy Eugene Peterson April 17, 2024 Thank you, James! That is very special coming from one so accomplished. Reply
Casey Robb April 17, 2024 What an amazing poem with its easy rhythm, satisfying rhymes, and subtle alliterations. The woods come alive with all these exquisite details. I’m drawn right in and can see it clearly. Yes, the woods are like a cathedral. I like the personification of the woods “waiting anxiously” and the “petals search.” Thanks for sharing this fine work! Reply
Roy Eugene Peterson April 17, 2024 I deeply appreciate your kind comments, Casey, and feel you have seen the woods through my eyes. Reply
C.B. Anderson April 17, 2024 You get it, Roy: Every thicket a chapel, every forest a cathedral. Reply
Roy Eugene Peterson April 17, 2024 Beautiful words, C.B. Thank you for sharing your special comments. Reply
Paul A. Freeman April 17, 2024 Lovely poem, lovely title, lovely picture. Thanks for a nostalgic changing of seasons piece, Roy Reply
Norma Pain April 18, 2024 A most enjoyable morning read. Beautifully descriptive. Thank you Roy. Reply