Here at Boroughbridge High School, students have written poems inspired by the forest, as Mr Woodward explains…
‘The Green Tree School Award was created by the Woodland Trust with the aim of trying to connect young people with nature in the hope that it would inspire more care for the environment. We have done various activities, including exploring ways of reducing our CO2 emissions as a school, tree planting, creating woodland art, tree species identification challenges and the creation of poetry inspired by nature as well as others.
‘These poems were composed beside the River Ure, deep within Hackfall Woods near Grewelthorpe. After some Japanese inspired shinrin yoku (forest bathing meditation), students listened to a reading of ‘The Peace of Wild Things’ by American poet Wendell Berry before finding a quiet spot to sit, look, listen and feel the calm of the forest while composing their own poem, following the structure of Berry’s original.’
Freya, Year Nine
When fear for the environment grows in me,
and I wake up in the night with frozen limbs in silence,
in fear of how long we will live anymore,
I go lie down where branches and roots strangle those who don’t care.
I relax in mother’s beauty next to the
soft sounds of the river and her children’s cries,
I come into the peace of wild things,
who do not worry about what the future has in store for them.
I come to the presence of sweet birds and thriving plants,
and I feel my eyes glazing over shining from the reflective stars,
waiting for the wildlife to help stitch up my head full of stars.
I rest in the grace of the world and I am free.
Millie, Year Nine
when distressfor the future grows in me
And I wake in the night not ready for what is ahead
in fear of failure and embarrassment,
I go and lie down where I feel most calm,
sit by the river or lay in my bed.
I come into the peace of wild things.
I come into the presence of the comfort of my bed
and I feel calm when water rushes past my body.
Watching the water weave through the rocks,
I rest in the grace of the world and am free.
Millie, Year Eight
When despair for my future grows in me,
And I wake in the night with the worry all built up
in fear of what is to come,
I go and lie down where nobody goes.
I rest with quiet, relaxing streams,
I come into the peace of wild things,
who don’t judge me for what I am.
I come to the presence of tumbling leaves,
and I feel happy
to let my thoughts drift away.
I rest in the grace of the world,
and I am free.
Ruby, Year Nine
When concerns for who is outside my door grows in me
and I wake in the night to the tiniest light
in fear of who may come to laugh at me,
I go and lie down where the sun is hidden and cold.
I swear the moon is ever approaching, the stars ever bright.
I come into the peace of wild things
who have no worries tonight.
I come into the presence of the nightime air
and I feel the sense of calm, sealed.
The stars dance around my head.
I rest in the grace of the world and am free.
Scarlett, Year Nine
When worries for my future grows in me,
and I wake in the night alone with no one to comfort me
in fear of what my life would bring me,
I go and lie down where the river flows,
I listen and listen until I relax.
I come into the peace of wild things,
who I wish were gone, who brings me fear.
I come into the presence of wildlife,
and I feel I belong here,
waiting for the sun to rise again.
I rest in the grace of the world, and I am free.
Spencer, Year Nine
When fear for life grows in me,
And I wake up at night with little moans,
in fear of things falling apart,
I go and lie down where the river whispers,
and doze off to the sound of little creatures.
I come into peace of wild things,
who do not care about the stress of tomorrow.
I come into the presence of nature,
and I feel at one with the world,
waiting just waiting.
I rest in the grace of the world, and I am free.
Summer, Year Eight
When anger because of others consumes me
and I wake in the night feeling unprepared
in fear of our eventual end,
I go and lie down where the river flows,
where the plants flutter in the wind.
I come into the peace of wild things
who does not think of consequences that may be.
I come into the presence of the bright, shining sun
and I feel the trees that surround and hide me
from whatever dangers that we may face out there.
I rest in the grace of the world and am free.
Tyler, Year Nine
When love for friends and family grows in me
and I wake in the night thinking
what’s going on around me in fear of climbing up trees
and can’t get down, I go and lie down
where it’s comfy and I listen to the noises around me.
I come into the peace of wild things who comfort me.
I come into the presence of sounds. And I feel it needs me
to wait for the future.
I rest in the grace of the world and am free.
Featured image by Nejc Košir, Pexels
Confictionarium 