Moments Like John Muir
by Michael Doyle

Sometimes, the city's too many faces
It makes me dream of faraway places
Where my heart can fade into the night
Traces of beauty replace blinding light

Times in the wilderness are best for me
Sometimes, it's a matter of necessity
The jagged edge has left me shaken
The call to the country is unmistaken

I feel the mountains call, and I must go
Back to the woods where cool streams flow
To play and pray, always wishing to stay
There is much to see in the passing days

Between every two pines is my doorway
Wildflowers are nature's best bouquet
Waiting for me to catch a precious scent
Before heading back to tell where I went

Here, I will return often if God is willing
Building, restoring, and again healing
All that needs peace deep inside of me
Out here in the wilds that lay a hidden country

Country that calls me entirely, body and soul
In the forest and its glens, where I can stroll
Walking on the dirt paths of my needed life
Here inside the sanctuary, free from the city's strife

I've found good tidings on top of mountain peaks
And found far more good than I set out to seek
Keeping close to nature's heart lived with sincerity
I have found my best moments lived with clarity
 
(c) September 12, 2024   Michael Doyle
All Rights Reserved