REPLY TO THE QUESTION: “HOW CAN YOU BECOME A POET?”
take the leaf of a tree
trace its exact shape
the outside edges
and inner lines
memorize the way it is fastened to the twig
(and how the twig arches from the branch)
how it springs forth in April
how it is panoplied in July
by late August
crumple it in your hand
so that you smell its end-of-summer sadness
chew its woody stem
listen to its autumn rattle
watch it as it atomizes in the November air
then in winter
when there is no leaf left
invent one
~ Eve Merriam (1916-1992), American poet and playwright
take the leaf of a tree
trace its exact shape
the outside edges
and inner lines
memorize the way it is fastened to the twig
(and how the twig arches from the branch)
how it springs forth in April
how it is panoplied in July
by late August
crumple it in your hand
so that you smell its end-of-summer sadness
chew its woody stem
listen to its autumn rattle
watch it as it atomizes in the November air
then in winter
when there is no leaf left
invent one
~ Eve Merriam (1916-1992), American poet and playwright
3 comments:
I am chewing on this wonderful drawing. So well stated.
Perfectly expressed. Artists look long and deeply at the everyday. Thank you for putting this out into the world and for posting the lovely drawing.
I had to make sure I knew the definition of panoplied. I did kind of know... but now I will never forget it... hopefully, when July comes especially. Thank you for making me stop for a moment and appreciate all of those pecan leaves I see scattering about...
deb
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