I used to live on a farm where, here and there, small stands of poplars grew.  I would make my way through the grassy fields until I reached the shade of the trees and wander, taking in the sights and sounds of the small forest.  It is in these moments that I felt most at home within myself.  There is something powerful about the way the sun shines down through the leaves as they dance in the breeze and the sound of the water as it trickles over smooth stones.  While wandering on these walks, all my cares dropped away and all that mattered was this one moment in time.  It was a place where I would go when I most needed to put my life in perspective…a place where I went to find myself. When I think of all the days I have spent wandering through the forest, I remember the many times that it has healed my heart and made me feel whole again.

              Those Who Wander
             By Krista Longeway

Wandering here and there, I slowly make my way 
Through the grassy fields on a sunny summer day
To a path seldom travelled in a shaded wood
Where I’d spend all of my days if only I could
Meandering along a path few others know
Where graceful bluebells and sweet wild strawberries grow
In the leafy branches of poplars standing tall
The summer air is alive with the songbird’s call
The sun shines down brightly giving leaves a green glow
Leaving dappled shadows on the dirt path below
A small creature scurries through the dense undergrowth
In a rustle of leaves that surprises us both
I slowly walk on until I reach a small stream
Flowing over smooth stones then away like a dream
I carefully cross, balancing on the damp stones, 
As I listen to the water’s melodic tones
Then I wander aimlessly through the trees some more
Through the ferns and brush that cover the forest floor
Until I reach a place to sit amongst the trees
Where I do nothing more than listen to the breeze
To wander the woods is not to be lost, my friend
It is but a means to find yourself in the end.