The most peaceful moments of my day are usually the 15~20 minutes I spend driving to pick up my daughter at school while the all~too~short broadcast of Garrison Keillor’s Writer’s Almanac plays on the radio and fills my car with audible beauty. On this broadcast he highlights great writers of the world and concludes each segment with a poem. The mid~section of this drive for me occurs in the Seattle Arboretum, an absolute treasure of trees in our city. No matter the season, I am always in awe as I drive beneath the enormous tree canopy in this 230 acre wilderness located along the east side of our city and running north to the edge of Lake Washington.
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This year the fall leaves in the PNW have been extraordinary. The winds and rains stayed away long enough for the leaves to have a chance to show off their full range of color, a rare occurrence here.
There are many paths through the acres of grounds, crowded major routes and then many more minor routes one can follow to get lost in the thoughtfully and thickly planted forests. On the day I took these shots, walking with Arabella and Ezemé, the Arboretum was very crowded, everyone was out to see the bold colors before forecasted storms rolled in. So we chose to take “The Road Not Taken”.
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| Ezemé and Arabella on the Arboretum Bridge |
This poem is the first poem that I recall studying and dissecting in grade school {after the study of haiku}. But when I read it tonight, at The Poetry Foundation it presented a completely different meaning than it did when my age was closer to the single digit range. So, I thought I’d use his words tonight, as we walk through the leaves and trees in The Arboretum because I don’t think I could come up with phrases so perfect to pair with this years beautiful display. Yes, I’ll leave the rest of the copy today to Mr. Robert Frost.
The Road Not Taken
~by Robert Frost
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Nothing like walking down those canopy of colourful trees.
Lovely pictures.
Wonders of nature.
Beautiful, Emily. I love that poem. Aren't we lucky to have such a treasure in are back yard? We wandered through the Japanese Garden the other day and the colors were just overwhelming. What a beautiful fall it's been.
Thanks for your sweet comment yesterday, and yes, of course, please feel free to link back to me. Merci for asking! Have a wonderful Thursday! XO
Bonjour Emily. Fantastic [seasonal] walk in the Arboretum. You are lucky you get to drive that road every day. A question for you: Didn't Olmsted also work on Volunteer Park in Capitol Hill? It totally reminds me of Central Park in some sections… A bientôt. Veronique (French Girl in Seattle)
Bon Soir Veronique ~ Oui, the Olmsteads did design Volunteer Park as well. What treasures for our city. I know what you mean, I feel the similarities to Central Park as well. So good to hear from you. A bientôt.
Jeanne, we are so fortunate. I need to stroll the Japanese Garden soon, it has been too long. xo
A most beautiful poem! Our trees have also been gorgeous beyond this year!
xoxo,
Karena
In with the Old: Jennifer Boles