Transition

tomorrow’s leaves are falling today --

dropping like stars from the branches of my tree,

not quite dying, but sick -- on the edge --

 

            the birds still roost in her naked boughs,

unwilling to give up their stick and mud homes,

until the last gray leaf has fallen

            and they are utterly exposed

 

I bear witness from the window as summer steals

the best of her bark -- no pouting plums upon my table

            this year --

her bowl remains empty, concave and clean

 

miracles are bees buzzing about my head,

and I am Saint Anthony of Padua, preaching to the fish,

with a voice undaunted by the practical nature of neutrality --

            I will find what has been lost

 

            in the air about this place, in the mist that hangs low

like a bride’s veil -- I will touch the weathered trunk of my tree

and give her back the will to turn gray to green, or at least

 

            the dignity to die in the arms of a friend

Reviews

[Astro]

My mother taught me so many years before of St. Anthony of lost socks and dreams. At least that's how I like to imagine him, standing above the shore peering into depths searching for lost remnants that wash up to the coast from sunken ships and times erosion of seaside villages. Whenever I had lost something she would say, "Pray to St. Anthony and you will find it." Somehow praying to Saints always seemed easier than praying to God(s), I think it is because Saints were once human, and their lives give way to inspiration, where God(s) remain a mystery and give less of a reassuring feeling to the person praying. I believe you bring up an important point in this poem about how life can begin to wither if enough care isn't taken to ensure it's blossoming. The last line of the poem is one of bitter sweetness, for even though something/someone will not die alone, it 'is' still death. There is a small typo in this line, "... in the mist the hangs low...". Let there be rejuvenation, for death is not so lonely that he needs more company just yet.

A very thought provoking read my friend.

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Thank you, my friend...and thank you for catching the blunder of my quick fingers :)

[Astro]

It's that piercing eye I have in the middle of my forehead, it catches meaning and mistakes equally, lol.

[Me]

Oh so very touching...such vivid and wonderful imagery...I love trees, this was simply stunning Sarah :) x

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Thank you so much, Raven!

[Vani Jalagar]

We live in a time of transition, an uneasy era which is likely to endure for the rest of this century.
Awe-inspiring :) thank you for sharing......

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

You are very kind, thank you so much...

[B-poet]

This is a profound eloquent masterpiece. Great work my favorite writing partner. A compelling write & read. :)

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

You are too kind, my friend!

[Kelly Scheppers]

I like to pick something about each of your poems that moves me...like, "in the mist that hangs low like a bride's veil". It gave me chills...but that's what you do best!

And the analogy of the tree, "the dignity to die in the arms of a friend..." How stirring this reads, Sarah! A lovely offering for the anticipation of autumn.

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Oh, you know not what your words of kindness and praise do for me, Kelly. I so appreciate your reviews...truly.

[Souladareatease]

I will find what has been lost
and...
I will touch the weathered trunk of my tree
and give her back the will to turn gray to green
I like these best out of all the Beautiful words on this page

Hold fast in its truths--make them so!!!
Wonderful Friday!!!

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Thank you so much, my friend! :)

[Souladareatease]

:) :)

[Anand Sehgal]

tomorrow’s leaves are falling today --
dropping like stars from the branches of my tree,

miracles are bees buzzing about my head,
and I am Saint Anthony of Padua, preaching to the fish,

Sarah You must try circum -contentive write at least for once. Your Grains of Imagery are superlative .

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

I'm slightly confused by your review, could you elaborate?

[Anand Sehgal]

Circum-contentive writing is a modern trend , where all the images are like granules but they are of different nature. We connected them through surreal imagery to create an abstract. I think you will do very well with that, that is why I was just telling you :)

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Yeah, I'm not sure I would fit so well into that form...I tend to take a little longer to say what I need to say, but I could always give it a try :) I'll take a look at the form and do some research and see if it sparks anything in my mind. lol

[Anand Sehgal]

good , that's the spirit :D

[Jack...]

"And the fruits of our dreams may rot, but their beauty shall live on in our memories"

Meanings, in words, in phrases, scuplted of minds that sometimes drift, lost and wondering, or perhaps hoping that life, that imaginary entity, will somehow see them and lift them, showing them the way. Empty, as are the branches of this tree may not be as empty as they seem, perhaps they bear fruit of a different type, the fruit of experience and knwoledge. Hold on tight my friend for the soothing rains of spring shall return once again and with them the frolicking bees which are in essence...life.

I always feel something when I visit you my friend, sometimes great joy and sometimes pure sadness, though more times than not I find that regardless of theme, questions bloom within my mind like a ripe plum, just waiting to be remembered.

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Thank you for always reading deeply, my friend. Jack, you are one of the good ones :)

[kublakhan27]

One of my greatest obsessions is with the weather and the changing of the seasons...a ton of my earlier stuff revolves around that theme, so you had me at line one with this one...I knew this is one I would love, and again you've shown your ability to bring serious significance to places it hadn't been before...wonderful work my friend.

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

So glad you enjoyed this one, my friend. It means a lot to me!

[kublakhan27]

Always a pleasure Sarah :)

[Horizon K.]

This speaks to me as one friend trying to comfort another dear and devastated one... Or perhaps trying to convince the self... that summer still has days left to bear fruit, leaves don't have to fall yet, there can still be hope, space for dreams, don't give up just yet.... such lovely metaphors Sarah, you leave me in a contemplative state...

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Thank you so very much, my friend!