Thursday, September 17, 2020

Poetry on Thursday


The poem I'm sharing today is one whose original title appealed to me, especially as we enter into the season of changing leaves and sequined trees.

Poem Beginning with a Line from It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
Maggie Smith
Just look—nothing but sincerity
as far as the eye can see—
the way the changed leaves,
flapping their yellow underbellies
in the wind, glitter. The tree
looks sequined wherever
the sun touches. Does anyone
not see it? Driving by a field
of spray-painted sheep, I think
the world is not all changed.
The air still ruffles wool
the way a mother’s hand
busies itself lovingly in the hair
of her small boy. The sun
lifts itself up, grows heavy
treading there, then lets itself
off the hook. Just look at it
leaving—the sky a tigereye
banded five kinds of gold
and bronze—and the sequin tree
shaking its spangles like a girl
on the high school drill team,
nothing but sincerity. It glitters
whether we’re looking or not.
This poem originally appeared in The Southern Review, Summer 2018
You can read more about the poet here
I wish you mindfulness, peace, sequin trees, the ability to notice the glitter, and some poetry as this week winds down. 

12 comments:

  1. I love the visual created by the words sequin trees - what a wonderful description!

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  2. "It glitters whether we're looking or not" -- what a line! It really does make me think of the difference between this year and all others. This year I've been taking the time to notice even the small changes in nature, whereas in the past, I've often been too busy. I'll be happy to say goodbye forever to most things from this year, but that is one thing I hope I make a habit going forward. Nature is always putting on a show; we just have to remember to notice and appreciate it.

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  3. I so look forward to your poetry selection on Thursdays! This one, wow! I LOVE IT!! I have printed it out and will be revisiting it frequently! Thank you!

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  4. Ah, yes! What a great poem! (I love Maggie Smith.)
    XO

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  5. Thanks for sharing this lovely poem!

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    1. You are welcome, Debbie! Poetry is one of the things that has helped me survive the pandemic, and there are just some poems that need to be shared.

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  6. Sequin trees and spray painted sheep - love it all! Thank you Bonny.

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  7. Sequined trees and glitter. I can't wait! Sending those same wishes back to you!

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  8. Beautiful Bonny. And I love Charles Schultz ......

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  9. I love poetry Thursdays too! I have been gathering quotes but maybe I need to gather poems as well.

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  10. What a beautiful poem. Glitter and sequins - I've never heard fall foliage described quite that way. Next time I walk I'm going to look for some of nature's glitter.

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Thank you for visiting and taking the time to comment! :-)