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Description
From childhood's hour I have not been
As others were -- I have not seen
As others saw -- I could not bring
My passions from a common spring --
From the same source I have not taken
My sorrow -- I could not awaken
My heart to joy at the same tone --
And all I lov'd -- I lov'd alone --

From 'Alone' by Edgar Allan Poe

This poem appeals to me because I can really relate to it. The feeling of not belonging and of being different.
As a child I used to take a detour when I was walking home from school, choosing to go through the forest rather than sticking to the road. I could spend hours in that forest, and I never got lost- no matter how deep into it I wandered. There was a particular tree that I would return to year after year and I would always give it a hug.
My love for the natural world was not well tolerated in school and other kids made fun of me for it. In their eyes I was not normal. But now as an adult, looking back, I sometimes wonder if I was in fact the normal one. I saw myself as part of Nature, not separate from it. Maybe the way we have separated ourselves is abnormal.
I was told years ago that there were plans to cut down that forest to make way for new areas of houses and streets. Having moved away from my childhood home, and never having been back, I don't know if it ever happened, but in my mind the forest is still there.

Watercolour and coloured pencils.

Description
From childhood's hour I have not been
As others were -- I have not seen
As others saw -- I could not bring
My passions from a common spring --
From the same source I have not taken
My sorrow -- I could not awaken
My heart to joy at the same tone --
And all I lov'd -- I lov'd alone --

From 'Alone' by Edgar Allan Poe

This poem appeals to me because I can really relate to it. The feeling of not belonging and of being different.
As a child I used to take a detour when I was walking home from school, choosing to go through the forest rather than sticking to the road. I could spend hours in that forest, and I never got lost- no matter how deep into it I wandered. There was a particular tree that I would return to year after year and I would always give it a hug.
My love for the natural world was not well tolerated in school and other kids made fun of me for it. In their eyes I was not normal. But now as an adult, looking back, I sometimes wonder if I was in fact the normal one. I saw myself as part of Nature, not separate from it. Maybe the way we have separated ourselves is abnormal.
I was told years ago that there were plans to cut down that forest to make way for new areas of houses and streets. Having moved away from my childhood home, and never having been back, I don't know if it ever happened, but in my mind the forest is still there.

Watercolour and coloured pencils.