Arroe Collins Forest Stories

Thanks for being part of the conversation I am the Poet In The Forest. A children series I penned out in the 1990s. None of it would be possible if it wasn’t for this forest in South Charlotte, NC. I talk about it so much that I thought maybe it’s time you get to meet all that inspires me. Thanks for being part of the conversation

Thanks for being part of the conversation I am the Poet In The Forest. A children series I penned out in the 1990s. None of it would be possible if it wasn’t for this forest in South Charlotte, NC. I talk about it so much that I thought maybe it’s time you get to meet all that inspires me. Thanks for being part of the conversation

The forest sits so silent on this 28 degree day. The wind with it's chill sounds more like a roar. Missing from the painting is the heat from the rising sun and the sound of a squirrel's claws gripping a nearby tree. So peace filled yet extremely noisy. If we were to fall to the forest floor to nap could we locate sleep?

Not a mountainside. Nor a giant national forest. This forest. So much has been written about and created within this inner city gathering of trees. Some of the roughest deep pits, long stretches of uphill walking and so easily flooded by spring and summertime southern downpours. You can't build on it. The animals know it. That's why they call it home.

Thanks for being part of the conversation I am the Poet In The Forest. A children series I penned out in the 1990s. None of it would be possible if it wasn’t for this forest in South Charlotte, NC. I talk about it so much that I thought maybe it’s time you get to meet all that inspires me. Thanks for being part of the conversation

Taking long walks is a great way to calm down the head and heart. So many millions venture out everyday. But they're totally connected to their earbuds and smartphones. Being listening to music or sharing a conversation. What are we tuning out? Mother Nature wants to speak but we aren't allowing the connection to happen.

A very cold morning in the forest. In the south we call it cold to the bone. This type of weather is actually very good for all living things. It strengthens the immune system while plants are given the go ahead to keep weeds and insects away. The flip side is cold weather deepens the humans depression. A very cold morning in the forest. Physically you feel like you're part of something.

The journey. The challenges. The ability to push through. The attempt to save giant elephant ears. After putting them planting pots to survive the winter cold indoors, my dog decided she would hide her food in the soil. On two occasions she took the plants out. Just when you thought they were dead up popped another leaf. A resurrection. Now I turn the thought on us. How many resurrections have we...

What kind of friend am I to think we can humanize an outdoor plant? There's a reason why the universe has created seasons. I freeze at 54 degrees and they seem to be smiling while it's raining.

The human race finds strength in being the top dog on the decision making totem pole. The Avatar series provides a reason to want to learn how to love all living things. He's made his money! Sadly will the stories be remembered or forgotten?

Are we running away too quickly? We face a 19 degree day without water and feel no need to want learn from the experience. What have you missed out on in life that's being called up right now...but you ran away too quickly?

Those little things that make us feel great in this moment of now... Are they for right now or should we write about it for a moment of darkness and or depression? To use this day as our escape and not man made medicines and or devices.

It's very difficult to forget the world was once locked down due to Covid. Yet we tend to forget how often we lock ourselves down because we don't want to deal with things that make us uncomfortable.

When nature plays well with itself and we somehow missed every bit of it. Our daily gifts seem to move around us at speeds our hearts can't keep up with. What we do catch is hidden away and kept for a future day. In reality it's our calling to allow it to move through us. But it was one of those moments and you don't truly see them everyday. But you do. We need to open our eyes and hearts a little...

When the birds stop singing. You never take note of it until your world stops. There are no crows or Canadian geese. No bright red cardinals or mourning doves. It's silent. Psychologically you pick up on it while physically you remain stuck to your walk in life.

Seven feet of snow fell on Buffalo, NY. How did the animal kingdom adapt to such sudden change? I'm often accused of caring too much for nature. But it's my chosen lifestyle. Learning to respect all living things. Including the tall grass in the backyard. All living things!

August 2, 2023 Looking at the colorful leaves on top of the house. They resemble bungee jumpers waiting for their next moment of leaping. I do wonder if their initial leap of faith was interrupted by the house. We’ve all been there, we plan for the big jump. Anxiety levels are high. We leap outward and end up on the house. When will the next opportunity begin? What did I learn from this? How can I...

Daylight savings time. I can't see the trees, tall grass and slow paced stream. The decision makers are making God like commands that effect us but no other living thing. It's OK for the government to adopt procedures that save fuel but human reaction is suicide or substance abuse. My forest has always been a connection. No matter how much light is available the goal is to endlessly keep reaching...

The smooth rolling hills that surround this tiny lake are decorated in mid-fall colors. Amazing reds, vibrant yellows, oranges and browns. There's no breeze to rough up the water, therefore the reflection on the surface showcases the perfect continuation. From the color of the morning sunrise to the light layer of fog slow dancing across the water. This is what I want heaven to look like when we e...

A spider's web catching the attention of more than just the falling leaves. While so many humans swoosh away a spiders work of art, a lesson can be learned about walking through life as an observer of natures music.

Not sure why I'm being called to this. It stems from a conversation shared with a church pastor several years ago. He said, "If Christ were to come back right now, he'd be injured by how we gather and celebrate his worst day." Meaning the crucifixion. I sit in this forest today. 45 degrees. The leaves turning bright yellow, burnt reds and oranges. When we fall witness to the beauty of fall, we are...

The week of Hurricane Ian. The storm did its fair share of ripping leaves off the trees and dropping weak limbs to the impatient forest floor. I stood on the soil looking upward. Trying to assess the connections. Our lives as humans is no different. Storms from the past tend to unearth in future times of struggle. I can't predict what will happen with these trees or inside of me. But we're blessed...

48 degrees this new morning. I didn't have enough time to prepare for this sudden change. I'm not sure the trees with their leaves did as well. There's an amazing amount of green blanketing the beauty of falls arrival. The shadows seem longer. The sun coming at us from a different angle. I study nature like a farmer tending to his open fields. I watch everything including the thickness of fur on t...

Blinding moments. When something so bright blocks your full vision from clearly telling your mind body and soul the entire story.

The sound of rain in the forest this morning. Which is odd to my heart because most of the time I'm listening to rain through an app on the smartphone. We use the sound to sleep. To see it rain today is looked upon as nature washing away the summer's graffiti. The passing of time requires us to accept the rain. For all things cannot live beyond their unspoken lifetime. A whisper from Heaven "There...