Monday 11 October 2010

Another poem for the Poetry Bus this week.

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.

20 comments:

mrsnesbitt said...

This is lovely Pat.
Dxx

Peter Goulding said...

What a wonderful poem! There's a magnificent serenity to this whole piece. No raging in the night!

Gerry Snape said...

what a wonderful poem and such poignant words.Very moving.

Midlife Roadtripper said...

I love that.

"Shall I be wrapped
in October's cloth of gold
or the sweet innocence of Christmas snow?"

Beautiful images.

angryparsnip said...

I too like "Midlife Jobhunter" love the images of those lines. In fact the whole poem was wonderful.

cheers, parsnip

Heather said...

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.

The Bug said...

I love this - such a nice alternative to railing against death.

Tramp said...

See you there, Joan. That's where I belong as well.
...Tramp

PurestGreen said...

Just wonderful. I love most of all the "whiplash of Spring."

steven said...

oh my word weaver! what tender reckonings of time's passage. steven

Helsie said...

That one certainly hits the mark, doesn't it?
Cheers
Helen

mansuetude said...

She is beautiful within.
These words could be read for years beyond our waking.

jeanette from everton terrace said...

Wow. This made me tear up. It's quite lovely. I'm so glad you shared it.

Unknown said...

Definitely a gentle leave-taking. I love the sounds and images of the first stanza. Joan has a winner here!

George said...

A stunningly beautiful poem!

Jinksy said...

Let's hope we can all write as well at 89! LOL :)

The Weaver of Grass said...

Thanks for the comments. I shall pass them on to Joan when I see her tomorrow afternoon.

NanU said...

Magnificent, Joan; so serene.

Bovey Belle said...

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 . . .

Bernie said...

Absolutely lovely. I loved it. So accepting of death and enveloping it with beauty!