Creative Campus

A hike. Poetry. A poetry hike known as “Into the Woods.”

Writers, readers, listeners and hikers grouped together at The University of Alabama’s Arboretum on Saturday, October 3, 2009 for the first ever “Into the Woods.” Writers had their stories read aloud by readers to hikers as the poets and short story writers ventured along the trails as well. Four volunteer hike leaders guided the four hikes. Many agree that it was tempting to discuss and talk about the stories and poems that were being read aloud, but silence was encouraged between each designated reading spot to promote quiet interpretations of each reading.  

The fall month gleamed with its expected seasonal characteristics that day. The wind blew slightly and the temperature was low enough to welcome the beaming sunlight with a few clouds. Everything surrounding the trails was still chlorophylic green, but the lack of sweat beads on the hikers’ foreheads proved that the leaves would be showing their colors soon enough. 

The hikers paced up a few small trails and down a couple baby knolls as readers emerged out from rusty dilapidating shanties and small, moldy-covered cross bridges. Each listener stood in silence, admiring the voice that fluently spoke the words that brought a centered separation from the busy commercialized world outside the forest. 

It was a lovely time and no one wanted it to end. Being around a few thousand trees and some wild flowers among pebble-trodden trails along with several delicate strings of sentences and words being spoken into the refreshing air, a more cohesive title for the event could have been “Lost in the Woods” (no negative connotation intended). 

There are high hopes and expectancies for another hike this Spring 2010. Until then, we must hike on our own! Take to the trails on your own initiative. It’s revitalizing and all those other “re” words that awaken the soul.

Intern:  Kinsey Russell

Photos from "Into the Woods"