about the poem
For many years I lived along the St. Croix River in the Great Northwoods of Wisconsin, where
bears, wolves and mountain lions shared the forest with me.
This was a time of isolation.
Loneliness exposed me to the rawness and fragility of life, and how you had to use your senses to survive.
about the poet
Dg Clearing grew up in Seymour and now lives in Menasha.
His poems are both personal and tell a social story of our time.
In 2020, the Wisconsin Writers Council chose him as one of the poets to represent Wisconsin for “National Poetry Month” in their documentary series.
His work has appeared in USA Today Gannett’s: The Milwaukee Journal, Green Bay Press-Gazette, The Appleton Post-Crescent, Letters to Gaia, Out Loud, and others.
He made his poetic debut in New York recently, reading at the Nuyroicn Poets Cafe.
He is also a visual artist and his art has been exhibited alongside works by Andy Warhol, George Morrison, Peter Dean, Christo and others.
The path
I hiked the trail many times.
Every season full of memories
wild flowers, from the april rains
fern groves, in the July damp
leaf colors, as october passes
white and silent, the bark of January.
Change is subtle, along the way
a sapling
new moss on a rock
morels, after the morning dew
a fallen branch.
Take note of the change.
Beaten, with footprints, the path is used by others. After a rain or snow, fresh footprints can be seen. Deer, mink, squirrels, turkeys all share the lane. Bear and cougar have crossed my path. Wolves and coyotes have been seen.
Being wise, walk familiar, with caution and respect.
Smells and sounds, guide each station of the choir of onlookers, in the swamp
giant pine trees, with the scent of their fresh sap, whistle breezes, along the edge of the cliff
the ravens squawk as they pass.
The senses tell, the right and wrong direction.
The beginning and the end, the road begins.
Subtle changes, give guidance.
Respect and be wise, your path is shared. Listen to your senses, looking for direction.