A View From The Pasture On A September Morning

 

The ending swallows the beginning's tale.

     John Hollander, "Kinneret"

 

 

  

The first cold morning and the slight slipping away

Beginning, nights longer, days blurring at the edges,

Distance seeming both closer and farther than before,

Especially in the garden where vines and sun burned

Bushes have laid down their bounties and burdens

And let the ground take them in again.  Soon time

To top-dress it all, compost and last winter's ashes

And spring and summer's horse manure ripe with oats,

Goat droppings clustered and round as stream pebbles.

Sparrows are picking the last bitter gooseberries and

Wasps come to drink from windfall apples and plums

And wobble off, drunk with delight.  Squirrels planting

The black walnuts and acorns, the first flight of geese.

The last cutting of hay in the barn, straw for the stalls.

The earth gives and we give it back, each in our way.

Wind too begins to shift and the storm comes almost

From the north, horses nicker as rain hardens to hail.





Poetry by countryfog
Read 822 times
Written on 2013-09-14 at 18:02

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It's interesting that as autumn approaches, many of us already have the seeds of spring thoughts planted in the back of our minds--and that, rather than diminishing the season only enhances it. Such as preparing the soil for wintering, so it will be more receptive to spring planting.

No such thing as a beginning or an end; everything seems to be an eternal spiral, whirling like dervishes. Your poems are always thoughtful and beautiful.
2013-09-16


Elle The PoetBay support member heart!
This is so beautiful, thank you

Elle
2013-09-15


josephus The PoetBay support member heart!
Although I live in the city, I have a large lot with a ompost bin? This time oxf year i begin to plan putting the garden to bed for the winter.knocking down the plants and rototilling in thm with the compost is the drill. I love the scent and the texture of this exercise. You've beautifully described the process here
2013-09-15


Lawrence Beck The PoetBay support member heart!
A fine, lyrical poem, but is summer ending already?
2013-09-15


shells
A delightful start to Autumn, which has arrived suddenly here in the uk
2013-09-15


Nils Teodor The PoetBay support member heart!
A true joy to read
You paint beauty with your words
Thanks for sharing
N T
2013-09-14



You just written my idea of heaven.
2013-09-14