red maple leaf falls
how do i measure its flight
what coordinates does it follow
what is its velocity in the north wind
where does it land
a pair of geese fly over the birch trees
how do i measure their wingspan
gliding freely in the late autumn sun
where are the portions & parcels
of maps & mazes
a grey heron stands in the river
my canvas blots its neck
craning for the big salmon
swimming against the tide
death & life warring with each other
i listen to the wind
wildly constant
as mossy soil beneath my boots
rumbles with the season's pulse
no maps
no mazes
only leaves returning to earth
Inspired by Anne Carson's poem, Wildly Constant.
Posted for dVerse Poets Pub - OpenLinkNight #419. Join us when the pub doors open at 3:00 pm. Thanks for your visits and comments.
I'd say you have your finger on the pulse of the moment.
ReplyDeleteI love the shape, form and content of this beautiful poem, Grace, the snapshot images of the leaf, geese and heron in italics and separated from your personal thoughts on them. I especially love the thought of geese:
ReplyDelete‘gliding freely in the late autumn sun
where are the portions & parcels
of maps & mazes’
and the way the sights turn to the sound of the wind and then back to earth in the final stanza.
so much returning without maps - your poem follows with lodestone to her wildly constant
ReplyDeleteLove how gently you weaved the words of Anne so gently into all those images of you autumn... with the wind being the actor
ReplyDeleteI love "the season's pulse."
ReplyDeleteSeasonality perfectly captured. Thanks for the share.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful poem, Grace! You've captured the moment.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the last stanza!
ReplyDeleteHappy Autumn
ReplyDeleteMuch love
The wind seems to be wildly constant here as well! This autumn particularly seems ton feel like "death and life warring with each other.
ReplyDeleteSome things are not meant to be measured, just marvelled at.
ReplyDelete