Autumn of No Return
I remember a day High-colored and warm, An innocent day That did me no harm, With a bicker of bluejays Quick in the elms, With harvest fragrance From apple realms And grape dominions Tich on its breath; And nothing to mark it The day before death. –From Petals of Light (written in 1949)
First Plowing in the Hills
When it’s too soon for spring, and even too soon To think of it, you’d think—some afternoon You’re sure to raise your eyes and see them there Cresting the topmost ridge that tries to pare Whole sections from the sky; a man and team Of horses plowing. Cloud and clod would seem To feel the […]
Helpers
Nothing could ever please my father more Than having all his grandfolk tag along To help him in the doing of each chore. His work was done much better with a throng Of little people dashing here and there And everywhere, each clamoring for a turn At everything from riding Kate, the mare, To turning […]