Ghost Story For The Wilderness Impaired

Posted on December 11, 2019 by

55 Comments

Slough Reflection
Timothy Lake July 2018

She’s a ghost. I know that. She brushes her fingers along my shoulders and I will look up to find her playing among the trees, pretending to be the wind. She’ll drop a pinecone or a small branch as a reminder. Then, off she goes to the deeper part of the forest where I can’t follow. She laughs. I can’t hear it, but I know she’s laughing.

This spirit of hers doesn’t frighten me. But there are times when the forest is as still as death. It’s upon these moments, in silent life, when I look behind me on the trail and shudder in my aloneness.

She returns, that’s what ghosts do, with her sound, a rustling, a stirring, a theme she buries deep inside me. Its tune reminds me that I’m also a ghost. At times, this makes me sad, to know I’m as invisible as her, but it’s her way of empowering me, to haunt. I can’t help but to be…a ghost.

I can tell you this one thing. It’s the only thing I really, really know. If you listen, you will also know you’re a ghost. Even when you’re in the middle of nowhere, look up, and see a jet leaving contrails high in the sky, above the wilderness, without making a sound.

 

 

Category: PoetryTags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

55 Comments on “Ghost Story For The Wilderness Impaired”

  3. Thanks so much! Yes, that’s a reflection from the spring waters of Timothy Lake, which is a reservoir close to Mt. Hood. It’s probably under snow right about now.

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Beautiful. Soothing. We are all ghosts — spirits. And the more in tune we are with all the other ghosts — including those of the wilderness — the better off we all are.

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Pingback: Blogger Recognition Award – A Voice

  23. This is so inspiring and true. It really reminds me of the many moments when I literally felt like a ghost…an invincible one, an invisible fire, I really don’t know how to describe it, but you described it perfectly. It really gave me those rare emotions. You have an incontestable talent. Thank you for appreciating my article and thank you for letting me discover you! Keep it going! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  25. I like the prose form here. It is poetic, but not self-important. Here is as successful a piece as I have encountered from you. Well done! PMA

    Liked by 1 person

  26. Kind ghosts like her do their best to make you visible in at least some way. Beautifully written!

    Like

  27. Thank you for some much-needed perspective. Not to mention a new turn-of-phrase that suits me perfectly (although I wish it didn’t): “wilderness impaired.” I’m giving it all a think.

    Liked by 2 people

  31. Inspired, to be breathed upon. Of spiritual nature. Contrast the mortality of the forest and its woody environs, with the slight touch or hind of breath. Transcendent and touching at the same time. Chris T.

    Liked by 1 person

  39. Your tale is thought provoking. Maybe in the end we’re all just ghosts, rattling our chains to gain some attention and feel as if we exist.

    Liked by 1 person

  47. Interesting take on feeling and being like a ghost, Elan! I can feel that way even in a crowd, in a technology controlled aloneness. In spite of zillions of real and imaginary connections I feel disconnected and long for the forest you described in your post.

    Liked by 1 person

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