Friday, December 02, 2011

Between Seasons


This was taken last year after the first snowfall. 

A tarnished pewter sky
peers through leafless branches
fog drifts and curls,

along the riverbanks and
hovers above the water,
where half a dozen geese float—

six dark shadows that
appear and disappear
as if they, too, were

only mist and imagination.
The last forlorn light
leaches from the afternoon.

Suspended between seasons
the days grow short.
The old year draws to a close

as though feeling its age.
Everything slows, quiets, fades,
until it seems the dreary days

will never end. Snow sweeps in,
making art of the drab browns,
the cheerless grays,

weighting the sad, dead grasses,
frosting every branch and twig
until the landscape looks luminous,

even on sunless days.
When it does shine, oh! the brilliance
of it, the dazzling radiance.

There is beauty in the passing
of one season to the next,
even in grim November.

8 comments:

Out on the prairie said...

A delightful read

Judith said...

You almost make me look forward to the snow.
The old year isn't the only one feeling its age this grim November ---

Photo is beautiful.

Anonymous said...

Absolutely wonderful. You have such a gift. Thank you for sharing it with us!

Brian Miller said...

still waiting for my snow to sweep in, the interim between has lasted a lot longer than it usually does...did get a bit chilly this week

Barbara said...

I think I miss the color as much as I miss the warmth. I suppose it makes me value the coming of Spring even more as the light and shades of green return once again.

Pauline said...

Thanks OOTP!

And you, too J. I love the snow - as long as I don't have to drive in it!

Thanks Barbara S. I like playing with words :)

Brian - we had the october snowstorm and since then, nothing.

Barbara - there's color, it's just more subtle (except for those bright red winter berries). I like the restfulness of the winter landscape. Spring and summer are so vibrant that once the colors are gone and I can see the bones of the earth, my eyes appreciate the simplicity.

Reya Mellicker said...

Beautiful!

I love floating between seasons. Ahhhh

Marion said...

"The old year draws to a close

as though feeling its age." November has forever made me feel melancholy and you have captured that feeling here. I love this poem...you've also captured the excitement in the coming new season...for me, there is always beauty in the "grim November", because in that month, we actually can see what the landscape looks like, without weeds or snow taking away from it. Here, everything is golden until snow arrives and I love the shining gold landscape. One can see for miles in November...xx