“Why I Go to the Woods”

Why I Go to the Woods
Michelle DiSarno

1.
It’s not that problems disappear,
but between the trees
there’s space to breathe. The leaves
are gentle. The sounds
are soft. Somewhere a deer
walks. Somewhere a squirrel
hides its food. Somewhere
an owl sleeps, worrying
about nothing.

2.
I can hear again the drips
of leftover rain on leaves, light
and soft and sweetened
with sunlight, like the language
of birds, who are hidden
in the chandelier of branches,
readying for flight, praising
the persistent promise
of the earth.

3.
And don’t I wish
I could be
like the trees? 
Tall, steadfast,
rooted. Thankful
for both sun and rain,
their arms always open
to the sky.

Michelle DiSarno’s poem is featured in the soon-to-be-published 2025 issue of Deep Wild: Writing from the Backcountry, the journal dedicated to writing inspired by places where there are no roads. Learn more about us and check out our Pre-Release Sale at deepwildjournal.com/subscribe.