Thursday, September 05, 2024

Poetry Friday: "To the Light of September" by W.S. Merwin


Mullein 


Here's a bit of perfection, a knowing nod to September, from the incomparable W.S. Merwin

To the Light of September
by W. S. Merwin

When you are already here
you appear to be only
a name that tells of you
whether you are present or not
....

(Read the rest here, at the Poetry Foundation.) 


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The Poetry Friday round-up is being hosted this week by Buffy Silverman


(Photo thanks to Hans at Pixabay.)

17 comments:

Linda B said...

I guess one could say Merwin is perfection! He watches and writes and shows us September! Thanks, Karen, a lovely post this week!

Karen Edmisten said...

Thanks, Linda! I love the lines "and for now it seems as though/
you are still summer" — oh, it does!

Buffy Silverman said...

Oh, I had never read To the Light of September--exquisite! These lines really resonated with me:
"but they all know
that you have come
the seed heads of the sage
the whispering birds
with nowhere to hide you
to keep you for later"
Thanks for sharing it!

TraceyKJ said...

Perfect poem for today, Karen! As I read, I recognized so many things from my immediate surroundings: yellow petals, chill mornings, whispering birds. Sigh.

jama said...

Such a lovely poem!! Perfection. :)

Patricia Franz said...

"You are still summer...
...yet with a glint
of bronze in the chill mornings". --- Ahhh.... This is my morning.

Mary Lee said...

Oh, wow. That last stanza. I'm feeling weepy this morning anyway, but that just brought MORE tears to my eyes.

Karen Edmisten said...

Buffy, my pleasure!

Karen Edmisten said...

Tracey, me too—our last couple of mornings have had this feel. :)

Karen Edmisten said...

Jama, you're back! Yay! Glad you liked this one.

Karen Edmisten said...

It was my morning, too, Patricia — instantly recognizable as that subtle, beautiful just-beginning change.

Karen Edmisten said...

I'm sorry I added more tears, Mary Lee—hoping it's the kind of weepiness that's just a passing feeling. xo

Tabatha said...

What a cool idea to write a poem to the light of September! It never occurs to me to write to the month, but I should put that on my To Write list. Beautiful poem xo

Jane @ www.raincitylibrarian.ca said...

Oh, September! Truly my favourite month of the year - fresh starts and new beginnings, and even some bittersweet lettings go.

Karen Edmisten said...

Tabatha, I have many things to say to February. :D

Karen Edmisten said...

I love September too, Jane! It has a little bit of everything. :)

Carol Varsalona said...

Ah! September shines outside in nature and inside your post, Karen. Thanks for the moments of peace.