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!
(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?
Two poems both entitled November, do you have any preference?
I do like the first poem.
ReplyDeleteThis 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
I think both of them are good, but the second one just about beats the first...
ReplyDeleteNovember 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:)
It depends how one sees it. Though!. I go with the second. Nature has her beauty even in a fallen leaf.
ReplyDeleteI would perhaps love listening to and reciting the first poem, but would love reading the second one silently.
ReplyDeleteI definitely prefer the second. Lovely!
ReplyDeleteThomas Hood accurately described the day in my part of the world!
ReplyDeletei 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.
ReplyDeleteLove the Updike!
ReplyDeletethe 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
ReplyDeleteFirst one is awesome!
ReplyDeleteI 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
ReplyDeleteI'd say my preference is for the second one. At least there is a little hope left at the end. :)
ReplyDeleteI think the second is my favorite. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm voting for Updike!
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDelete