Parkland Tryst

From the starlit lake
a suggestion of mist
drifts towards the bench
where I sit every time.

I'm slow and often late,
but she forgives me,
graciously as always,
no doubt delighted that
I love the way she models
each year's grandest dress
and the seductive way
she lets slip its leaves,
yellowed and rustling,
till she's naked and shivers
as the mist thickens
in the hardening cold.

I would embrace her,
warm her if I could,
but she prefers me to wait:

I'll be hers soon enough.

.

Reviews

[Eilis]

I love how this begins as a lovely tryst with nature and brings us back around to reality where the speaker understands his time (perhaps all time) is limited.

I liked the way this moved me through certain cycles of thought- not unlike the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly. I recently visited a butterfly farm and learned that when that transformation happens within the cocoon, the caterpillar essentially becomes DNA soup and eventually just spontaneously forms a whole new creature.

Your poem just reminded me of that as it went from the suggestion of an affair to the realization that the speaker was admiring autumn foliage (transformation) to the recognition of the transience of life. It’s almost like the poem is urging the reader to slow down and just absorb each moment as there will only be so many.

It’s a canny handling of a series of ideas. Not the typical autumn poem, but an exploration of time and experience itself. At least that’s how I’m conceiving it at the moment. Enjoyed reading

[Gerald Parker]

"It’s a canny handling of a series of ideas. Not the typical autumn poem, but an exploration of time and experience itself. At least that’s how I’m conceiving it at the moment." That's an excellent summing up of my little poem. I'm very pleased that it has that effect. Thank you very much, Eilis.

[NotUsinganymore]

Very great imagination and description! I enjoyed this a lot!

[Gerald Parker]

Thank you for your comment. More important in reviews is to comment on 1. content 2. use of language, vocabulary, metaphor, etc. 3. emotional content 4. effect on the reader

[likesgreeneggsandham]

Thoughtfully written and rich in imagination. Simply lovely. Your words evoked a picture of the scene so beautifully.

[Gerald Parker]

Pleased you liked it, thanks.

[_mal]

This is beautiful, so many layers.

[Gerald Parker]

Thanks for liking this.

[ReedWrite]

An interesting poem. I love the poem itself...the words at face value...but there is so much more here. I need time to dwell on it. This is a thought-provoking piece, rich with imagery. Beautiful.

[Gerald Parker]

Pleased you liked it, thanks.