The spicewood burns along the gray, spent sky,
In moist unchimneyed places, in a wind,
That whips it all before, and all behind,
Into one thick, rude flame, now low, now high,
It is the first, the homeliest thing of all--
At sight of it, that lad that by it fares,
Whistles afresh his foolish, town-caught airs--
A thing so honey-colored, and so tall!
It is as though the young Year, ere he pass,
To the white riot of the cherry tree,
Would fain accustom us, or here, or there,
To his new sudden ways with bough and grass,
So starts with what is humble, plain to see,
And all familiar as a cup, a chair.
The white riot of the cherry tree. Great imagery and appreciation of otherwise unnoticed things
Her poetry, remarkable for its intensity and concision, has been compared to that of Emily Dickinson.CONGRATS being chosen as The Modern Poem Of The Day!
This juxtaposition suggests a transition from youth to maturity, with the humble spicewood representing the familiar and comforting, while the cherry tree symbolizes the excitement and uncertainty of the future.
Hmmm....I don't think I'm as enchanted by this piece as much as some others of the lost.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
I like this poem. It turns me up side down. great write.