I wrote with other poets last week at the Highlights Foundation workshop led by David L. Harrison, and I posted about it both Last Friday and Tuesday. It was a fabulous experience for me, and a new one. To be able to immerse myself in all things poetry was a gift I gave myself, and I am so happy that I did. During that time, it was not only beautiful autumn weather, but the setting was the beautiful Poconos. One of the problems with loss of a loved one is that we (I) kept wanting to share things with that person, and yet I could not. Thus, I did write several poems capturing the experience, and one of them is this one I am sharing with you.
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| On one of my hikes, in the Poconos. |
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| photo credit: thethingsitdoes via photopin cc |
And I Would Show You
And
I would show you Autumn is here.
Where
once greenest leaves, now falling goodbyes.
Flowers’
last blooms fade by the evening;
Afternoon
breezes undress trees with sighs.
And
I would show you the sun has changed angles.
It’s
no longer glaring, clouds relax in their glide.
Last
minute bees taste last minute nectar;
Crickets
are chirping, cicadas abide.
And
I would show you the clocks appear slower;
it’s
time for breath holding, and nothing still grows.
Nature’s
preparing stark shadows of Winter,
Creating
the paintings for its newest art show.
Linda
Baie ©All Rights Reserved
"Afternoon breezes undress trees with sighs." -- nice, Linda. I like the mood you create with this piece.
ReplyDeleteThanks Tabatha. It was amazing fall weather.
DeleteI choked up on the words "and I would show you." A beautiful, image filled poem. I hope writing helps you grieve and helps you heal.
ReplyDeleteThanks Margaret. It seems important to me that I do write. Like your capturing of your work in your new book!
DeleteLovely, Linda! It"s so true how you automatically think of sharing with a loved one, and it doesn't change just because they have departed. If anything the need to share seems stronger. But that's when I think that we are sharing, it's just a bit one-sided feeling.
ReplyDeleteYes, you said it just right, Donna. Thank you!
DeleteI am so sorry for your loss, Linda. Your poem is beautiful. "And I would show you" is a poignant title and lead line. So lovely!
ReplyDeleteThanks Iza. Funny how that one line took me into the 'telling'.
DeleteI, too, love the line "And I would show you," Linda, but I also loved:
ReplyDelete>>Last minute bees taste last minute nectar;<<
Thanks for sharing this beautiful poem with us.
Thanks Carmela-autumn is such a beautiful time to "be"!
DeleteSo lovely. Falling goodbyes. Last minute bees. Trees with sighs. Thank you for sharing this with us.
ReplyDeleteThank you Liz-I appreciate your words!
DeleteThis might be my favorite poem of yours yet! Poignant and beautiful, and the phrase "And I would show you" so intimate and loving. Especially love "falling goodbyes," "last minute bees taste last minute nectar," and "it's time for breath holding." You've captured autumn's sentiment perfectly.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jama-so happy you enjoyed it!
Deletesimply lovely, Linda. I'm so sorry for your loss. What you say reminds me to share more while my loved ones are still with me.
ReplyDeleteThank you BJ-yes, take time as much as you can! It's something we all should do.
DeleteLovely poem, Linda. You hooked me with your first line (so captures the hole that's left by loss) and echoed with "once greenest leaves, now falling goodbyes." Thanks for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteThanks Buffy. I am glad you noticed that line!
Delete"Afternoon breezes undress trees with sighs." -- So romantic, Linda. I know that feeling, having to remind oneself that you can't pick up the phone and talk to the person who's gone. Sending love to you.
ReplyDeleteThanks Laura-your words are like a hug!
DeleteWow. "Afternoon breezes undress trees with sighs." Like everyone else, I adore this line! And I'm so glad you shared this poem with us! I love your repeated line...the prayerlike quality of this puts me in mind of Kenyon's Let Evening Come, which is spectacular. Hugs...
ReplyDeleteThanks Laura. Now I need to find Kenyon's poem. Nice to hear those words!
DeleteNature’s preparing stark shadows of winter,
ReplyDeleteCreating the paintings for its newest art show.
Love that closing, Linda - an invitation to winter's beauty, stark though it may be.
Tara, Thank you-there is certainly beauty in our winters, too!
DeleteOh Linda, that repeating "And I would show you" is so poignant and effective, making your poem almost song-like. All the changes you chronicle sure put me in the slow, sweet spirit of fall. Beautiful poem. I'm glad you shared it with us.
ReplyDeleteViolet N.
Thanks Violet, it is my favorite season for sure. I appreciate your response very much!
DeleteAlthough I know it was written from a place of fresh pain, I love every single bit of this poem. I think it's my favorite of all you've ever written. Your images are all simply perfect for the goodbye in the repeating line/title "And I would show you." You captured the changes of life/autumn and the new stark art of winter/aloneness. I'm just in awe. Was this one of those poems that came out fairly whole, or did you struggle with it? Whatever the case: wow.
ReplyDeleteMary Lee, thank you for such positive words. The repeating line came and the first stanza, then different images, but I worked on that ending quite a bit, and the rhythm too. I still see a few parts I might revise, but I am satisfied with most. It is indeed special to me.
DeleteYour poem is beautiful, Linda. Like many others, I loved this line: "Afternoon breezes undress trees with sighs." There is such a poignancy to the image it creates. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteYour are welcome, Catherine. And thank you for enjoying my poem!
DeleteOh Linda, this is so incredibly moving. I like that the clouds are relaxing a bit, slowing down from summer's frantic rush (well, it's frantic in our house, what with canning and beekeeping!) Thank you for sharing your heart here, and hurray for giving yourself the gift of the trip! It sounds like it was wonderful!
ReplyDeleteThanks Keri-so lovely to hear this from you! Yes, you're so right, that frantic-ness of summer does slow in the fall.
DeleteWhat a beautiful reminder to notice and savor every moment, every detail. Thank you for sharing this, Linda.
ReplyDeleteThank you Michelle-It is good to watch & notice those little things as much as we can.
DeleteOh Linda, that second stanza and the angle of the sun...lovely.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jone-just as it is in the autumn, isn't it?
DeleteTears. I'm so sorry for your loss. It's a beautiful poem.
DeleteThanks Ruth. I actually loved writing it. It helped tremendously!
DeleteTears. This is a beautiful poem, and I'm so sorry for your loss.
ReplyDelete