Rob Krabbe’s most recent poem to appear here was Undone (July 2011). Are you somewhere in autumn yet?
Fall’s Ashes
By Rob Krabbe
When I sit on my porch in my fall
rocking chair and I look to the bright
heavens, I see pages of summer
poems flitting down from the sky.
Flames of orange and red, consumed
by the season, dancing beautifully on
the wind, soon to float to the earth that
welcomes them to herself much as a
mother opens her arms for her children.
I watch this parade until the
last parchment slowly lays down
upon the ground. Life’s own poems,
telling the story of a spring heart
filled to the brim and a huge summer
feast.
When the dance is done
I see the framework of life,
crisp and cold, picked clean
like a well eaten bone.
I lay back and think of going home.
Ashes to the earth, where spring’s
phoenix will rise to fly and make new
this parade of spring rains and
fresh warm ponds filling, unfolding
life, like a born baby’s new cry.
I hope I get to watch the parade
for a while, but when it’s time
float down to lay upon the earth
under the nearest tree.
I love the flow and ease of this beautiful poem.
I absolutely love this poem. Probably my favorite I’ve read on VP thus far, and I have really enjoyed so many. What a gift this one is on the beautiful fall morning!
Lovely!