Birches

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  • Death

    Birches

    Low bending to the wind,

    Soft moaning from the cold,

    Wrapped up in fading skin,

    Three stoics growing old.

     

    Their curled arthritic hands

    Make prayer as saints in churches,

    Seek respite where the strands’

    Fronds sashay akin t’ birches.

     

    Ordained to wear white frost,

    Let finch and nuthatch play,

    Not knowing what is lost,

    They make woodpecker’s day.

     

    Ménage-a-trios takes root,

    Becomes their way of life,

    The point of this left moot,

    While mistress serves as wife.

     

    Soft halo o’er the moon,

    Trails little icy laces,

    Time freezes far too soon,

    The lights upon their faces.

     

    Just lay me underneath,

    When all such lights have gone,

    In shadows, trace soft wreath,

    While we await the dawn.


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    ginga commented on Birches

    03-11-2010

    Harver, I will be leaving momentarily to bring my latest poem, "Exposure" (not posted yet), to a poetry critique session. My topic is also "birches". Wow! Yours is a phenomenal poem. Much different than what I have penned and much more dramatic. I love this. ginga

    earthly commented on Birches

    03-11-2010

    Birches are one of my favorite trees-we have white (paper), gray, yellow (silver)-I like reading any nature poems:)...earthly

    bloomingsun commented on Birches

    12-07-2009

    This is so beautiful. You use words artistically, delicately and in lovely form. I love it, certainly this is a 10... The last verse is my favorite; it is the perfect closing, reminding me of Tolkien himself...

    HarverTomsson

    12/08/2009

    It does share pity phrasing with a couple of yours, doesn't it. thanks for your appreciative read.

    Poetry is either something that lives like fire inside you or else it is nothing, an empty formalized bore around which pedants can endlessly drone their notes and explanations.

    Unknown Source

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