Commenting on the post Going To Trees, long-time FP reader Wayne noted:
The old growth trees at the Battle of King’s Mountain were enormous; big enough to conceal a half a dozen or more men and easily stop a round ball.
I was once inside a hollow at the base of a tulip poplar tree in Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest (NC) with 9 other adults. Joyce Kilmer is one of the last remaining original old growth forests in the southeast. Modern trees don’t begin to compare in size. We’re used to seeing a single riflemen hide behind a single tree, but in the 1700’s a squad could hide behind a tree, which makes for a very different kind of forest.
Of course, I had to hie off down the sidetrail to the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest.
This forest is one of the Nation’s most impressive remnants of old-growth forest. The forest contains magnificent examples of more than 100 tree species, many over 400-years-old, and some more than 20 feet in circumference and 100 feet tall. This 3,800-acre forest was set aside in 1936 as a memorial to the author of the poem “Trees,” Joyce Kilmer, who was killed in action in France during World War I. This forest, part of the Joyce Kilmer-Slick Rock Wilderness, is maintained in its primitive state. The only way to see this forest is on foot. A 2-mile trail leads to the Joyce Kilmer Memorial and loops through giant trees.
Trees
By Joyce Kilmer
I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in Summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
One commentator described to the forest as “otherworldly,” and you know I am powerfully drawn to that. In the timbers of Fennario…
This spot now joins the Knysna Forest in South Africa on my map of Fennario.
Matthew says
I think that forests symbolically and sometimes literally represent the unknown. Whether it is Bilbo venturing into Mirkwood or the very real long hunter in the Appalachian it is venturing into unexplored territory. We have been doing that for God alone knows how long. It’s probably in our genes by now. I think that is why forests are often “otherworldly.”
Chris Newport says
I feel I must think of another field of battle, the one for America’s soul. I like many American Men here are under a sacred obligation from our Soldier’s Oath; to defend our Constitution against all enemies foreign AND domestic.
At the moment our country is facing its greatest threat since the British in 1775. Biden rigged the election to get in. While giving speeches for the vote, he could not even fill an auditorium, and he won over Trump? Every appeal was already rigged. I could go on but the issue is his actions to deliberately destroy the country that he started with a death blow by ending our oil production, and to violate the Constitution. This puts us in a hard place, under obligation, but waiting, armed but waiting for what sign?
lane batot says
Do I really want to even respond here? Do I NEED to? Of course everyone IS entitled to their opinion, and I am mine. This comment line would be more appropriate on the following post, of course, regarding the American Revolution in the discussion, but I will say, since it was commented on on this post, if Trump had his way, he’d turn the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest into lumber for money. As to the “rigged” election–proof? Every opportunity to present REAL PROOF–NONE forthcoming. “Every appeal rigged”? How can anyone believe ALL these people are “rigged” against Trump, and ONLY HE is right? No evidence, never will be, because there is none. You can BET, if there was any shred of real evidence, it would be ballyhooed to the rooftops! But, uh, NONE…… As for no one showing up much at Biden’s “rallies”–the type of folks that voted for Biden(like myself, perhaps–and I’m not particularly enamoured with Biden–it’s just the ALTERNATIVE?), are just not inclined to mass together to worship their Lord And Master, fawning all over the ego-maniac while he spouts one lie after another. I mean, Trump has no monopoly on lying politicians, certainly, but he has taken it to a whole ‘nuther level! Once blatantly CAUGHT in lie after lie, it only takes a time or two before I DON’T TRUST such a person, nor will support them, blindly, no matter what corruption they are involved in. Ever notice with Trump how EVERYTHING that goes wrong is somebody else’s fault? He NEVER takes responsibility for any of his mistakes, and he’s made a record number! That alone should be major cause for suspicion, for anyone with a lick of common sense. And I KNOW many folks with plenty of common sense that just WON’T see that–hard to understand! But then, Trump has had this modus operandi long, long before he ran for president–always involved in some crooked money making scheme–I despised the man back then–but then the younger folks weren’t around to witness such celebrity shenanigans. The most corrosive, divisive president in my lifetime–he makes Nixon’s one big “Watergate” lie nothing in comparison! Hard to understand how that con man can keep fooling great swaths of the public with the broken-record statements of “I’ve done nothing wrong!” and “It’s a witch hunt!” Says every criminal caught in the act. Sometimes, of course witches NEED hunting…..And THAT is my windmill tilting done for this day…….
Jean Nave says
Wonderful piece, and thanks so much for reminding me about the amazing poem, “Trees”.
lane batot says
Great video on the Joyce Kilmer Forest. Depending on the weather, and what time one visits, will determine the various moods of the place–when I was there, the sun slanting through mist and fog made it like being in a giant cathedral. And I traversed the far longer route through the Slickrock Creek Wilderness area, where I was in the water as much as on the trails! I back-packed one time with a couple of my wolf-dogs, and my first Siberian–the dogs carrying some of my gear in their packs!…… And I MUST mention the SPLENDID sable German Shepherd on the video–he moved like a dream–no mutated sloping back or crippled hindquarters as in the Conformation Show Standard German Shepherds! SPLENDID dog!…… So, what is, perzackly, yer “map of Fennario”?
JimC says
Map of Fennario is in my head — the landscape where history, myth and folklore intersect. Is it a place? Or a state of mind?
lane batot says
Cool! I suppose we all have some sort of such a map in our imaginations and perceptions……Now I know a TERM for it!
lane batot says
Okay, did some back-tracking–I guess I had just forgot yer post on “Fennario”–sad, since it was such a good post! But heck, man, it was a full year ago! I’ve had a lotta preoccupations since then! But nothing like repetition to establish a memory–it’s what dog training is all about! Have you progressed any(on paper or in imagination) on your thoughts regarding a “Fennario” type storyline? I don’t know about you, but were I contemplating such, Bigfoot would HAVE TO have some part in it……..
JimC says
Right now, I’m focused on the podcast, but that’s always in my mind…
Wayne says
To Lane Batot – Thanks for your summation of the fraud that is Trump. Now let’s eschew current politics and return to the better topics of FP.
lane batot says
Agreed. It angered me that the divisive influence of the Big Orange invaded even this hidden wilderness domicile, and as any indigenous folk knows, to survive and keep what’s yours, you gotta do yer best to repulse such influence when it rears its destructive head. But as you see, I carried on in proper Frontier Partisan manner on further commentary, as if nothing had happened!! I sure WON”T bring up such an unpleasant subject on this blog, but if it insists on intruding with it’s propaganda, I may feel the need to defend……..