9 Nov 2011

NOVEMBER.



No sun - no moon!

No morn - no noon -

No dawn - no dusk - no proper time of day.


No warmth, no cheerfulness, no healthful ease,


No comfortable feel in any member -


No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees,


No fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no birds! -


November!

  - Thomas Hood
(1799 - 1845)

The stripped and shapely
Maple grieves
The ghosts of her
Departed leaves.

The ground is hard,

As hard as stone.
The year is old,
The birds are flown.

And yet the world,
In its distress,
Displays a certain
Loveliness---

- John Updike
(1932 - 2009)

Two poems both entitled November, do you have any preference?

15 comments:

Carol said...

I do like the first poem.

This morning was very dreary but we have blue skies and sun now.

Sending you smiles and hugs for this November day

PS I see you found a festive reading challenge
carol

Arti said...

I think both of them are good, but the second one just about beats the first...
November is one of the most comfortable months of the year here in Mumbai, its neither too hot not too cold. Its very pleasant.
Have a fabulous week Tracy:)

anilkurup59 said...

It depends how one sees it. Though!. I go with the second. Nature has her beauty even in a fallen leaf.

Monalisa said...

I would perhaps love listening to and reciting the first poem, but would love reading the second one silently.

Kelly said...

I definitely prefer the second. Lovely!

Mary (Bookfan) said...

Thomas Hood accurately described the day in my part of the world!

Heather said...

i like the second one better, it is more uplifting, though the first certainly does capture the feeling of November. Thanks for sharing these. I haven't read them before.

Maude Lynn said...

Love the Updike!

Joan said...

the first one , so similar to how i'm feeling at the moment, i think ive got a touch of the november blues (lol) especilaay while i'm at work

Nina said...

First one is awesome!

Trac~ said...

I like them both and I always enjoy coming here to see what new thing you've posted each day! I do hope you're feeling much better now. Thanks for the kind words on my last post - as you can see things have been crazy lately which explains my lack of blogging mojo - *sigh* xoxoxo

Melissa (Books and Things) said...

I'd say my preference is for the second one. At least there is a little hope left at the end. :)

Golden Eagle said...

I think the second is my favorite. :)

Jenners said...

I'm voting for Updike!

Sandra Wilkes said...

I think I like the second one best. He ends on an upward note among the downers of the month. We still have remaining colorful leaves to delight us too.