Thanks to Matt Forrest Esenwine for hosting today at Radio, Rhythm & Rhyme, HERE! He's celebrating a one-year anniversary of a book of ocean poetry written and gathered by his "Writer's Loft" group and sharing one of his poems! Be sure to check out this book for future gift-giving! Nearly always I go to bed and usually read some of an adult novel. All the other times, I read poetry and books for kids to review on Mondays. This week, when some were celebrating gaining an hour when saying goodbye to Daylight Savings Time, I did gain one, but it was in the morning, in the dark, waking up my usual time, about six. Only, sad to say, it was really five - right?
A few poems from Ted Kooser's Sure Signs was all I could manage at bedtime and an early one at that. He took me to First Snow when "The winter night curls round the legs of the trees", to August where "The cicada shell/clings to a day in the past", and he showed How To Make Rhubarb Wine where after all the instructions, one should "Take time each day to think about it." He helped me sleep with Year's End (where we are now) when he writes "Now the seasons are closing their files/on each of us". Find this book, or another by this poet and enjoy!
A Paean for Ted Kooser
It will be a wind-driven night
to read with Ted again.
I'm watching leaves cluster
upon the deck table,
not sharing the chairs
with anyone but themselves.
Yet, they do not linger.
They spiral and spin up
onto the last green plant,
the fence, the screen door,
scratching to be in
because it's cold
and windy
and they're already
done with autumn.
Linda Baie ©
Linda, I like your take on the clustering leaves. It is a wonderful point of view that I never thought of. "already done with autumn" Cuddling in bed with a good book is such a great image. In fact, I am doing the same with my writing now. Cozy up with some good books this weekend.
ReplyDeleteYou've captured so much in this poem, Linda! "They spiral and spin onto the last green plant." Such a wonderful visual. Happy Friday!
ReplyDeletePerfect thoughts for fall, Linda - and perfect weather for 'reading with Ted!'
ReplyDeleteLovely poem, Linda -- a little wistful, exactly like fall. I will have to look for Sure Signs. I enjoy Kooser's poetry a lot! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteLinda, I love the details in our poem. I can feel and see the leaves cluster on your table. Kooser is my favorite poet. I so admire his powers of observation of things so close to home.
ReplyDeleteLinda: I so love your paean to Ted. He is my most favorite, and I was reading him this week also. I love the scratching at the door, already done with autumn. Thanks...
ReplyDeleteThat collection of leaves on the deck chairs says so much. And, wow! What a great response to Ted Kooser. Your poem definitely has his spare tone. It takes so little in his poems to paint a perfect picture...and you've done that.
ReplyDeleteThank you everyone for coming by and sharing another fall day with leaves! I spent a good part of this day raking and readying to take big bags to our compost leaf drop. Perhaps the leaves will feel cozier with more company! Happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteThe transition to DST is so hard. You were definitely channeling Ted Kooser with your poem. I like the way you personified the leaves.
ReplyDeleteOh, Linda, I love that personification of the leaves "scratching to be in
ReplyDeletebecause it's cold
and windy" and "done with autumn"
Clever and fun! I think an extra hour reading was a good use of it.
Such wonderful imagery, Linda. It certainly has that Kooser feel to it.
ReplyDeleteOooh, what a wonderful poem. I love the personification -- scratching to be let in is brilliant! Thanks for the little Kooser excerpts, as well.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mary Lee, Denise, Leigh Anne, & Laura. It was another 'leafy' day!
ReplyDeleteYou have done Ted proud with your poem Linda. Your word weaving with the leaves is most impressive. Loved the images conjured up.
ReplyDeleteTed Kooser is such a rewarding read! And I love your poem too! Thank you for sharing autumn with me, since we don't have it where I live. <3
ReplyDeleteThank you Alan and Ruth. It's a windy day today; more leaves fill the air!
ReplyDeleteLinda, I love all the movement and personification in your poem! Really lovely! Here in PA, the politicians are debating doing away with DST. The time changes take time to get used to, but if our state abandons DST, it is going to be very confusing for us. My husband works in MD and my younger son and many family members live there. I know some states border on others with different time zones, but it will take some getting used to if it comes to pass.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing what's going on with you & your family, Linda. Across state lines would be a nightmare, I agree. I don't think we will make any changes & I don't mind once I get used to it, but it is always a shock! I'm glad you enjoyed my poem! I have about seven trees that surround my home, lots of leaves!
DeleteLinda, those leaves sure are busy, wish they'd take their time and linger in autumn a bit longer… Loved this line, "not sharing the chairs" those leaves have such an attitude. Thanks, and keep warm.
ReplyDeleteWonderful mentor text for personification, Linda. I love those leaves scratching to be in out of the cold. We live in the Australian state that doesn't have DST - and every year I wonder why people put themselves through that jetlag experience. Urgh! It's a pain living with the incorrect assumption that the east coast is all running on DST - but it would be a bigger pain having to cope with the clocks changing twice a year. (They trialled it for a time and I was so thankful they tossed it out. It took a significant toll on our farming family members when DST kicked in.)
ReplyDeleteLove Love Love what you did at the end there, with the leaves scratching at the door, wanting to get in and
ReplyDelete"they're already
done with autumn."
I should spend more time with Ted myself!
Thanks, Michelle, Kat, & Heidi. I'm happy those leaves gave you another perspective! I'm still raking! And yes, Kat, DST is a challenge but if you read Linda Kulp-Trout's comment above, you'll see how it can affect others if taken away. What a dilemma!
ReplyDeleteLinda, Yours is a lovely poem about leaves and the change in seasons. I love fall but do enjoy all seasons - even winter. Like you, I usually read an adult novel at night - right now it's Braiding Sweetgrass. I wonder if you'd like it - since you observe and write about nature yourself. There are some things I like about it and others I don't. So, alternatively - when I need a break - I've been reading 10 X 10, a book of pomes compiled by Bridge Magee. Congratulations on your inclusion in that book - I love "Extra Needed!" Carol from The Apples in My Orchard!
ReplyDeleteI like all the seasons, too, Carol. And I've read Braiding Sweetgrass but it's been a while. It is wonderful, am glad you are enjoying it! I am proud to be in Bridget's new anthology. Thank you for the compliment & for coming by! Have a good week ahead, enjoying all the days.
DeleteYour poem fits what was happening with the leaves today. The wind was really stirring them up.
ReplyDeleteLove your paean to Ted Kooser. I am not familiar with Sure Signs. Adding it to my Amazon wish list since our library doesn't have a copy. I treasure the night I heard him read poetry here in Seattle. It was a magical evening.
ReplyDeleteThanks much, Jone & Ramona. How wonderful that you had that pleasure, Ramona!
ReplyDelete