Turtle Island Tree Psalms: Poems by Hugh Ogden.Turtle Island Turtle Island may refer to: Geography
Hugh Ogden Higganum Hill Books PO Box 666, Higganum, CT 06441 0977655628 $12.95 82 pages (800) 888-4741 www.ipgbook.com A beautiful collection of prayer-songs of trees, heard by the two-leggeds only after long, deep, and meditative med·i·ta·tive adj. Characterized by or prone to meditation. See Synonyms at pensive. med  i·ta listening . "Turtle Island Tree Psalms" is an impressive and memorable volume of poetry by Hugh Ogden which is grounded in observation, natural and Native American traditions, It's language is always clear, once the time is taken to truly listen. Reading "Turtle Island Tree Psalms" can be a very calming, centering experience. It can also be ego-shattering, but that may be a good thing too. Here are two poems for contemplation Contemplation Compleat Angler, The Izaak Walton’s classic treatise on the Contemplative Man’s Recreation. [Br. Lit.: The Compleat Angler] Thinker, The sculpture by Rodin, depicting contemplative man. , the first, 'Red Oak on Red Hill Above the Floodplain floodplain, level land along the course of a river formed by the deposition of sediment during periodic floods. Floodplains contain such features as levees, backswamps, delta plains, and oxbow lakes. ,' and the second, 'Coda, Earth Voice': "I will be here long/ after you're gone, after/ your two-legged life ends/ where it began, after/ what you hadn't thought/ to watch for arrives,/ after storms cease and/ stillness leaves earth/ ready to be born anew a·new adv. 1. Once more; again. 2. In a new and different way, form, or manner. [Middle English : a, of (from Old English of; see of) + new (p. 76)." "The trees have spoken. Now go,/ listen to the mountains,/ winged-feather/ spirits, four-leggeds, even/ scale-bodies athrob/ in water./ Go, listen to all creature-/beings, not just/ to the white/ pine, ash, and spruce but to/the turn of seasons,/lake-murmur/ below lake shine, soil-loam/and layers of stone./ You'll think/ in veins deep down and connect/ to the ground you/ grow from,/speak the tongue of gratitude,/be a two-legged who/ has a mind./ Go, listen (p. 79)." "Turtle Island Tree Psalms" is something very special for earth and life appreciators. Nancy Lorraine Senior Reviewer |
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