Describe the landscape that you love best and say what it is about the landscape that really draws you to it. Can you maybe also suggest why you think (from your own history and background) this landscape above all others captures your imagination, your Whole Being?
Cumberland State Forest is a home away from home filled with endless childhood memories that never fail to bring a smile to my face. The soundscape of nature, the ring of whip-tails, the soothing hum of the breeze rustling through the leaves, fills my ears and my heart as I am brought back to simpler times. I am now sitting on what we would call ‘snake rock’ looking out at the vast open space before me. The base of the rock intertwined with vines full of little nooks and crannys all perfect for the creatures of the forest to curl up in for the night; the head of the rock pointed out to the path seemingly shaped like a snake’s head. I glance up at the sky, the bright blue and contrasting white bleeding through the greenery that shadows the ground below it. The sky was becoming a palette of vibrant colours mixing endlessly with one another.
As I look across the display of tall, short, wide and thin trees, shrubs and vines my eyes are drawn to one tree in particular; only a stump now, standing alone. I see it standing tall and I can hear the cheers of excited little children as they drag their grandfather to the base of it. Their little heads all lean back until their backs hurt as they try to take in the beauty of nature. They intertwine their fingers with one another as they wrap their bodies around the trunk, hugging close to the bark, breathing in the fresh air and laughing as they struggle to keep hold of each other and falling to the ground after they’ve reached too far. I am brought to tears by the beauty of innocence I once knew. Too young to worry about what destruction would bring the tree to fall; too young to think of the grief and despair that would come in the following years. Full of hope, full of life, able to just be in the moment.
Literature 2018 