My old friend, Joan Cairns, has given me another poem for this week's theme. If you haven't heard of Joan before on my blog here is a brief resume:
Joan is almost 89, still amazingly active, well-read (Guardian every day from start to finish), well-informed and feisty with it. She always asks me what the bus theme is and if it appeals to her she has a go.
This week the theme is a newspaper headline - she saw this headline in The Guardian on October 8th - so here is the poem:-
"The Woods are Wonderful."
When I must leave
let it be in peace
whatever the season.
It may be the whiplash of Spring
in the sharp air
or the soft brown silk
of Summer's dusk.
Shall I be wrapped
in October's cloth of gold
or the sweet innocence of Christmas snow?
I will lie here
where the trees will bless me,
shroud and absorb me,
till I become
a vigour and a stimulus
for next year's lkeaves. Joan Cairns.
Monday 11 October 2010
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20 comments:
This is lovely Pat.
Dxx
What a wonderful poem! There's a magnificent serenity to this whole piece. No raging in the night!
what a wonderful poem and such poignant words.Very moving.
I love that.
"Shall I be wrapped
in October's cloth of gold
or the sweet innocence of Christmas snow?"
Beautiful images.
I too like "Midlife Jobhunter" love the images of those lines. In fact the whole poem was wonderful.
cheers, parsnip
Oh Pat - what a beautiful poem. It is so serene and comforting. I shall write it in my notebook so I don't forget it, and please thank your friend for letting us read it.
I love this - such a nice alternative to railing against death.
See you there, Joan. That's where I belong as well.
...Tramp
Just wonderful. I love most of all the "whiplash of Spring."
oh my word weaver! what tender reckonings of time's passage. steven
That one certainly hits the mark, doesn't it?
Cheers
Helen
She is beautiful within.
These words could be read for years beyond our waking.
Wow. This made me tear up. It's quite lovely. I'm so glad you shared it.
Definitely a gentle leave-taking. I love the sounds and images of the first stanza. Joan has a winner here!
A stunningly beautiful poem!
Let's hope we can all write as well at 89! LOL :)
Thanks for the comments. I shall pass them on to Joan when I see her tomorrow afternoon.
Magnificent, Joan; so serene.
What a wonderful evocative piece of writing. Particularly apt were the last few lines, as we found such a spot in the New Forest for my mum's ashes . . .
Absolutely lovely. I loved it. So accepting of death and enveloping it with beauty!
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