I prefer
the word 'woodland'
to 'forest'
it's inviting-
(the latter
I associate
with 'being lost')
and I imagine
it's laden with rest
poetically expressed-

woodland
once my childhood heartland:
after school
there I was
chasing butterflies
in my school-dress

a cool stream
ran between
the foliage
I was lulled
by bird-songs
that drifted across
the silent space

woodland
is good-land
my bed
of tender memories
how could I
ever forget?