The Thrill of the Chase by Forrest Fenn has inspired many to start exploring the world around them. In an article written by Margie Goldsmith, which appeared in the Hemispheres Magazine in January 2013, is a wonderful quote by Dal Neitzel. It is as follows:
“Forrest Fenn is the hider of undiscovered dreams for thousands of folks who go looking for that treasure; and discover not the place where the treasure is hidden, but the place in their heart where adventure sleeps, and trails begin.”
How beautiful…..and wise. I believe those who have taken on the challenge to find the chest of gold in the Rockies have experienced what Dal so elegantly described. A spark is ignited and creates a blaze that will never be silenced again. I also believe this could be exactly what Forrest Fenn is implying by his last lines in his poem:
If you are brave and in the wood
I give you title to the gold.
Mr. Fenn has been heard many times in saying he created the hunt for families to get out and about; to leave the couch, the TV, the comforts and luxuries of home to seek something more.
When I consider the National Anthem of the United States ends with, “Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave, o’er the land of the free and home of the brave?”, I have to wonder if the ‘brave’ of Forrest Fenn’s poem implies America. America was founded by explorers for a new world. They left what they knew to seek something more. They were brave. It is the ‘home of the brave’.
The sentence includes not just ‘brave’, but ‘in the wood’ as well. What could ‘in the wood’ suggest? The center section of wood is called the heart. The heart is ‘in the wood’. Could then ‘If you are brave and in the wood’ imply ‘the heart of America’?
Some may apply this straight to a location and think Rocky Mountain National Park, as this is sometimes mentioned to be ‘the heart of the Rockies’. I have explored this possibility and it very well may be. Salida, Co. is another ‘heart of the Rockies’.
But I have also considered this to refer directly to the Thrill of the Chase. Only if you find the ‘heart of America’ in you, and what made this country great, are you experiencing the Thrill of the Chase and able to find the treasure and be given the ‘title to the gold.’
I think “in the wood” is very symbolic, and mearly suggests that you are out there and not behind your silly screens or tv sets. -2c-
I translate the last stanza as, I (FF) have told you all you need to know to solve the poem. If you have been wise, your effort will be worth the the chest. If your brave (Like a warrior) and not meek of being the wilderness and find the chest, I give ownership to the one whom is worthy.
Good morning Jenny! Just wanted to share that I think there is a connection between the w00d and the word Truth (pronounced tr00th).. wherein I see r00t
There is -as ALWAYS- more to it. Im the wood is actually quite deeper. “Wood” by definition in one individual of a type of tree, or a group of one type of tree. Once you see it you will understand though.
Hey Eric, you are right on…there are many definitions of wood. Search the numerical equivalent of “it” = “92” and you’ll find one definition of wood related to number 92. Coffin bone of a horse’s hoof is also considered wood, as are portions of a saddle; in music and words, the “root”
The poem seems to have been written to a person 5000 years ago or 5000 years in the future provided that they understand the english language. FF has said that finding an arrow head was a thrill of a lifetime.
There are (4) open ended poem lines in forrest Fenn’s poem. An open ended poem line has no punctuation and it is purposely done by Fenn. He has handed these lines over to the reader to interpret the line. Open ended poem line hands the line over to the reader for them to interpret. for example #3 He doesn’t know why he has to die (GO) so He has handed it over for you to decide where you (GO) when you die whether that is heaven or whatever you believe it is. another example is #4 Brave and in the wood ask yourself how you get in the wood. Fenn left these 4 line open ended on purpose. In order to get in the wood there has to be a (crack) or (fissure) to get inside. after crossing the creek to get to the blaze there was a fissure.
1. As I have gone alone in there
2. Begin it where warm waters halt
3. So why is it that I must go
4. If your brave and in the wood
DRock the Solver.
Interpretive. – All poetry is not
written in single lines – or with each line
representing a single broken thought.
Each line carries over into the next ..
The thought is not: “As I go alone in there”
(Period)
It is: As I go alone in there
WITH MY TREAURES BOLD –
then period.
Same with Rest – “Begin it where Warm Waters
Halt AND TAKE IT IN THE CANYON DOWN” – (STOP.)
So why is it that I must go AND LEAVE
MY TROVE FOR ALL TO FIND .. (The Answer is ..)
If your Brave and in the Wood I GIVE YOU
TITLE TO THE GOLD. – Your Friend Forrest Fenn ..
Poetry and Sentence and Thought (known in acting as a BEAT – a single thought – whether it is a sentence, or a half of a sentence, or covering many lines of dialogue – is still a single beat ..) .. A single line of Poetry – the “Written Structure” of Poetry – does not always equal a Sentence – it does always equal a Poetic Beat — just like a sentence does not always equal a Thought ..
Poetry is .. VISUAL ART – something written on a page for visual appeal — the way the lines are pronounced (and each person pronouncing them – especially professionally trained actors – may pronounce them different, putting pauses and stops in places DIFFERENT from the way they were written by the author) .. Spoken speech does not always match the way the lines are written .. A SINGLE THOUGHT may only cover a few words – or it may cover several stanzas ..
Ignore the visual layout of the poem – it creates unnatural pauses – that’s why so many people read Shakespeare so badly — they make unnatural pauses at the ends of each line instead of at the end of the sentence ..
Find the BEATS of thought ..
So why is it that I must go and leave my trove for all to find.?
The answers I already know. — OR: The answer IS: I already know:
1. I’ve done it tired and now I’m weak.
OR:
1. I’ve done it tired ..
2. And now I’m weak.
People who WRITE use periods and commas and semi-colons and paragraphs ..
People who SPEAK – DONT.
Write all the words of the poem down on paper – ONLY THE WORDS —
DON’T WRITE ANY punctuation marks or poetic breaks of lines or stanzas ..
Write ONLY the words – in a single stream of conscious .. then make YOUR OWN breaks in thought – where do you naturally stop? What lines or words string together .. to make a SINGLE THOUGHT – For You?
Deconstruct what you’ve been told to learn ..
Deconstruct what you’ve got memorized ..
And take a new look at what’s being said ..
B
Hello Brad. Interesting post. What are your thoughts to the rhymes/near rhymes at the end of each line? Do they serve a purpose?
Brad, i enjoyed your interesting application of poetic beat. Well thought out and helpful in connecting thoughts.
When changing the word “seek” to find I believe you could be making a costly mistake. Forrest chose every word on purpose as each is purposeful in solving the puzzle. In Forrest’s own words…it’s dangerous to discount any of the words in the poem.