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| Photo by Leersum, from Wikimedia Commons |
Autumn
If I can let you go as trees let go
Their leaves, so casually, one by one;
If I can come to know what they do know,
That fall is the release, the consummation,
Then fear of time and the uncertain fruit
Would not distemper the great lucid skies
This strangest autumn, mellow and acute.
If I can take the dark with open eyes
And call it seasonal, not harsh or strange
(For love itself may need a time of sleep),
And, treelike, stand unmoved before the change,
Lose what I lose to keep what I can keep,
The strong root still alive under the snow,
Love will endure - if I can let you go.
May Sarton
Yes
by William Stafford
It could happen any time, tornado,
earthquake, Armageddon…
But some bonuses, like morning,
like right now, like noon,
like evening.
Read the entire poem here.
Cathy Mere is hosting POETRY FRIDAY today. Head over there for lots more great poetry.
Beautiful, Carol, that melancholy of autumn is so wistful here in these poems. Thank you for finding and sharing.
ReplyDeleteCarol, both of these are new for me. "...If I can take the dark with open eyes, and call it seasonal..." There's so much wisdom in those lines.
ReplyDeleteI work hard each fall to embrace this dark season, enlightened by a friend who delighted in more cozy time, not less sunlight. I love celebrating
the bonuses ever before us. Thanks for sharing!
Just love that resounding affirmation in "Yes".
ReplyDeleteCarol,
ReplyDeleteA stop by your blog always brings a smile to my face. The first poem, by May Sarton, puts me to mind of my life a little right now. With all of our kids off to college, I guess I am trying to get to know what the trees know. I'm thinking she was speaking more of love, but somehow I could still see the connection.
As for William Stafford....I just love his work.
Originally when I started to write my poem, I was considering a fall poem. What could I say about fall that a thousand poets hadn't already said. However, as I've moved across blogs I have realized experienced poets write about something else in the guise of fall. Moving.
Thanks for the smile and the great stop,
Cathy
"Love will endure - if I can let you go." - so true of the season, but also of parenting. Thanks for sharing, Carol! =)
ReplyDeleteLovely choices, Carol. Wistful and strong, bittersweet and grateful.
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful poems -- like the May Sarton one especially (new to me). Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteBoth of these are beautiful and both are new to me. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteLove that William Stafford -- new to me -- just bookmarked.
ReplyDeleteAnd from the May Sarton:
"If I can take the dark with open eyes
And call it seasonal, not harsh or strange "
Oh, my, YES!