Every line is sharp

 

Evergreen Cemetery, Gettysburg    Photo by Chris Muldowney

I love this poem by May Sarton

Poem in Autumn

 

 

Now over everything the autumn light is thrown

And every line is sharp and every leaf is clear,

Now without density or weight, the airy sun

Sits in the flaming boughs, a an innocent fire

That shines but does not burn or wither.

The leaves light-penetrated, change their essence,

Take on the gold transparence of the weather,

Are touched by death, then by lights holy presence.

So we, first touched by death, were changed in essence,

As if grief grew transparent and turned to airy gold

And we were given days of special radiance.

Light-brimmed, light-shaken, and with love so filled

It seemed the whole heartbeat of the world was in our blood,

And when we stood together, love was everywhere,

And no exchange was needed, if exchange we could

The blessedness of sunlight poised on air.

 - May Sarton 

The Terrace at Mount Saint Mary's      photo by Teresa Rupp