Vespers Poem by Louise Gluck

Vespers

Rating: 4.2


In your extended absence, you permit me
use of earth, anticipating
some return on investment. I must report
failure in my assignment, principally
regarding the tomato plants.
I think I should not be encouraged to grow
tomatoes. Or, if I am, you should withhold
the heavy rains, the cold nights that come
so often here, while other regions get
twelve weeks of summer. All this
belongs to you: on the other hand,
I planted the seeds, I watched the first shoots
like wings tearing the soil, and it was my heart
broken by the blight, the black spot so quickly
multiplying in the rows. I doubt
you have a heart, in our understanding of
that term. You who do not discriminate
between the dead and the living, who are, in consequence,
immune to foreshadowing, you may not know
how much terror we bear, the spotted leaf,
the red leaves of the maple falling
even in August, in early darkness: I am responsible
for these vines.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Mahtab Bangalee 24 October 2020

you have a heart, in our understanding of that term. You who do not discriminate between the dead and the living, who are, in consequence, immune to foreshadowing, ...Poems of meditation where the poet is looking for the divine match of the past with the present to make the peaceful future/// beautiful poem penned; I enjoyed

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P A Noushad 16 October 2020

Great heart touching verses dear friend Louise Gluck.

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Jeff Davis 12 October 2020

the reader sounds like a robot

1 0 Reply
Colleen Courtney 14 May 2014

An interesting, enjoyable read.

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Louise Gluck

Louise Gluck

New York / United States
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