The Day Millicent Found the World

The Day Millicent Found the World


Every morning Millicent ventured farther
into the woods. At first she stayed
near light, the edge where bushes grew, where
her way back appeared in glimpses among
dark trunks behind her. Then by farther paths
or openings where giant pines had fallen
she explored ever deeper into
the interior, till one day she stood under a great
dome among columns, the heart of the forest, and knew:
Lost. She had achieved a mysterious world
where any direction would yield only surprise.

The spirit of the forest is often referred too as The Green Man. I strongly believe in The Green Man and understand that is presence is in every leaf of every tree. He lives through the roots and travels in the forest air. When you find him he is a beautiful thing and brings peace to mind. I believe Millicent has found him and through him, herself. She finds herself being drawn in until she is lost. Notice that Stafford explains Millicent's misplacement as "achieved." Millicent being lost is a positive thing, she is surrounded by unknowing but she will learn something from every surprise.

And now not only the giant trees were strange
but the ground at her feet had a velvet nearness;
intricate lines on bark wove messages all
around her. Long strokes of golden sunlight
shifted over her feet and hands. She felt
caught up and breathing in a great powerful embrace.
A birdcall wandered forth at leisurely intervals
from an opening on her right: “Come away, Come away.”
Never before had she let herself realize
that she was part of the world and that it would follow
Wherever she went. She was part of its breath.

The Green Man is winding messages into the bark for her, embracing her through the air and in the breath her lounges intake! He communicates through the birds, encouraging her to not be wary of the unknowing and to continue exploring, discovering herself through what she sees. Millicent finds herself as part of the forests breath. Like me, she has found a significant connection with the forest and it's spirit.

Aunt Dolbee called her back that time, a high
voice tapering faintly among the farthest trees,
Milli-cent! Milli-cent! And that time she returned,
but slowly, her dress fluttering along pressing
back branches, her feet stirring up the dark smell
of moss, and her face floating forward, a stranger’s
face now, with a new depth in it, into the light.

The Green Man has changed Millicent. She is called back by reality, by the "real world" but with a new gleam in her eyes. She has matured and gained knowledge from her expirience of unknowing.

                                               -William Stafford
 
 
 
William Stafford is brilliant! I'm glad I have come across this poem, it is easily in my favorites! As I have said before, I believe in the spirit of the forest strongly and it is a wonderful thing! It is described and depicted very well through Stafford's words. Very good poem!