It's the third Thursday of the month so I'd like to welcome you to A Gathering of Poetry. Since the spring equinox happened on Tuesday and we are approaching gardening season, I thought this poem was appropriate. A friend sent it to me over a month ago, and as soon as I read it, I knew it was perfect and needed to be shared.
by Laura Grace Weldon
Nature teaches nothing is lost.
It’s transmuted.
Spread between rows of beans,
last year’s rusty leaves tamp down weeds.
Coffee grounds and banana peels
foster rose blooms. Bread crumbs
scattered for birds become song.
Leftovers offered to chickens come back
as eggs, yolks sunrise orange.
Broccoli stems and bruised apples
fed to cows return as milk steaming in the pail,
as patties steaming in the pasture.
Surely our shame and sorrow
also return,
composted by years
into something generative as wisdom.
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You can read more about the poet here.
I like this one Bonny! The title kind of cracks me up and it is interesting to think of our shame and sorrow being composted over the years. I particularly like the line: "Bread crumbs scattered for birds become song." Thank you for sharing this!
ReplyDeleteI love this -- such beautiful thoughts and images! We can see the effects of things breaking down and becoming new in nature, so why not also our thoughts and feelings? Thank you so much for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteThis is perfection, Bonny. What delightful imagery! I confessed I laughed at the cow thoughts! What a lovely way to tie together the stuff of daily life as it "transmutes" into something new and more wonderful!
ReplyDeleteThat reminds me of a video science lesson we used to show the kids. The catch phrase was "you can't make nothing out of something" and that thought has been my Roman Empire ever since.
ReplyDeleteThat is an interesting catch phrase, one that could be applied in many places!
DeleteWhat a great, great poem, Bonny. I love thinking about all the "crap" of my life . . . turning into the useful and (perhaps) helpful compost of wisdom. Such a wonderful image . . . life and transformation. A new poem for my favorites-file, for sure!
ReplyDeleteApropos for this season.
ReplyDeleteThat poem is lovely and so true.
ReplyDeleteOooh, I like this one a lot, Bonny. It's a good way to think about how the junk we deal with can turn into something better.
ReplyDeleteI've been in a bit of 'a state' lately -- and THIS, this, I needed! Yes. Thank you.
ReplyDelete(And the patties...I thought they were going to be on a plate! But in the pasture works, too. And it makes for a happier line. For sure.)
I'm glad this poem was a good one for you (but you definitely don't want those patties on a plate)!
DeleteLove this! and it's perfect for this time of year when everyone is yearning to start their gardens.
ReplyDeleteWhat a perfect poem for this time of year. Compost, does indeed, happen. Thank goodness
ReplyDeleteWell, you know this poem speaks to me, Bonny. I am hoping my shame and sorrow certainly becomes wisdom in time. I hope John is doing better, and that your world is settling down a bit.
ReplyDelete