This piece is called “Lost”, named after the poem by the American poet David Wagoner:
Lost
Stand still. The trees ahead and bushes beside you
Are not lost. Wherever you are is called Here,
And you must treat it as a powerful stranger,
Must ask permission to know it and be known.
The forest breathes. Listen. It answers,
I have made this place around you.
If you leave it, you may come back again, saying Here.
No two trees are the same to Raven.
No two branches are the same to Wren.
If what a tree or a bush does is lost on you,
You are surely lost. Stand still. The forest knows
Where you are. You must let it find you.
— David Wagoner
(1999)
The poem is frequently recited by the Anglo-Irish poet David Whyte, who interprets it as a reflection on the profound act of ‘waking up’ and reclaiming our lives. Framed as a tale shared by an old Native American elder, it is a story passed down through generations. It embodies the kind of wisdom an elder might impart to a young girl or boy whose very survival hinges on answering the question: ‘What do I do when I am lost in the forest?’
Lost
Dimensions: 21 cm x 30 cm
Medium: Acrylic and mixed media on paper
Framing: Unframed
Finish: UV-protective coating and varnish