© Steve King
All rights reserved
I wait again on summer, as I have
through all receding seasons, through the mist
and ice, through the tearing haze of autumn
smoke. I do not love
the sun, no; nor warm
airs that might undo the ache of lingering thaws.
I cannot cling to any summer thing:
they are all one to me and may only
remind that there is movement in the world,
a cautious and reluctant pace to draw
the seasons through their new calamities.
Change is the only force; not life, not death,
not renewal; and it shall hold a place
between the living and uncounted dead,
donning new weeds, as it moves, day by day,
to lead the old procession on its way.
And yet I search for stasis all around,
for moments that will mirror clarity.
Perhaps that is the use of summertime:
as from a seat on strange heights one sees
dark chasms surrounding the bright redoubt,
harboring unknown fates on paths below,
so summer, with its lack of distraction,
its all-at-once respite from the grey rains
and veiling skies, upholds a brief vision
to gather all. A sometime peace to gauge
the onset and wake of towering storms;
a rare occasioned season of the mind,
simplicity in tenuous vacuum—
the patient center of my hurricane.
A poem for Open Link Night at d'Verse
http://dversepoets.com/
I love how you painted summer season, its all-at-once respite from the grey rains ~ Change indeed is the only force but with it, comes & gathers of all of nature's storms & hurricanes ~
ReplyDeleteWe have OLN at D'verse later at 3 pm, if you want to link up ~
I had started to read this one this morning Steve--after coffee and before my first student--but didn't get through it before the first knock--I love your work--always a pleasure to feel your world a bit through your verse--really gorgeous in your imagery
ReplyDeleteSummers are fleeting. This captures the season beautifully. You hit it right out of the park in your closing lines:
ReplyDelete"a rare occasioned season of the mind,
simplicity in tenuous vacuum—
the patient center of my hurricane."
Gorgeous writing!
it feels nice to find that center as well doesnt it...it was like a breath when friday came and school was done....sure i am working summer school but that is only half days and different...its a sigh...and for a time, we will enjoy it...nice write man
ReplyDeletewow, Steve, this is my all-time favorite of yours, just magical. the ending of the first stanza from Change on...wow. I love it.
ReplyDeleteDepthful writing here, Steve. I think we all need to find that place where we feel centered & peaceful & everything is clear to us. I like the idea of the 'patient center of my hurricane.' I need to find that place. Smiles.
ReplyDeleteI think we are each of different seasons. I don't know if it chimes with when in the year we were born or not. My season is autumn, even with its shorter days, inclement weather and falling leaves. it speaks to my personality. Wonderful imagery here, beautiful phrases.
ReplyDeleteHi Steve--you know this is my first year where my home base is upstate New York, though I've come here for years and even this year spent a great deal of time away, in the City, etc. But nonetheless, summer feels incredibly different this time round--very unreal - so strange to be here after all those months of snow (which I really didn't mind)--still, it feels quicker already and it's only just begun, so your poem speaks to me in a very particular way. And maybe it's not just upstate New York but aging that is involved here--as you do involve it--
ReplyDeleteSo much beautiful writing here--for me, it is also about a difficulty connecting with the world as one ages, to feel already as much a part of it--one's interior history becomes so strong, and the rush of time--I especially like your discussion of change--and the donning new weeds--this is just so clever--as it gets at the raiment of summer in so many ways--the mirroring of clarity brings up also that kind of light of summer that arises with the strong sun--in ponds but even on blades of grass!
Agh, change! You bring up the stillness in the buzz of heat. Wonderful piece. (I am worried about my own brain storms as I write this and my fingers want to type everything wrong--) K.
This is wonderful, Steve. I, too, am not a huge fan of summer, & for similar reasons/fears. I fear fire, which ravages us so mercilessly - & to which my home is quite vulnerable. And then there are the snakes, the drought, the monotony of endless hot days, & struggling to keep the garden alive. Give me late autumn or winter, please. Mind you, spring is a bit of a hussy, isn't she? Tantalizing, with so much heady fragrance & promise. I do have a soft spot for her... Lovely, thoughtful poem you've written, & I love your vocabulary. Really enjoyed this. - Vivienne, of OneVoicePoetry, along with Bjorn et al.
ReplyDeleteI love summer the warmth of the sun, the smell of flowers and everything seems to be so alive. I think it helps give clarity in the journey. Change is the one thing we can be certain will happen just like the seasons our lives are always in motion. Really enjoyed this read.
ReplyDeleteAmbitious write Steve - but you pull it off nicely - the patient center of my hurricane." Enjoyed the read... Regards Scott www.scotthastie.com
ReplyDeleteA wonderful, indeed pleasurable read.
ReplyDeleteNo sun lover I, I do love summer and the lush green of it, it makes me glad to be alive.
That said your words: A sometime peace to gauge
the onset and wake of towering storms;
a rare occasioned season of the mind,
simplicity in tenuous vacuum—
the patient center of my hurricane.
- is perhaps why I love summer...
Anna :o]
oh to find that peaceful center... summer has arrived here finally but still a bit to go until my holidays start... i yearn for a break though...
ReplyDeleteI love this and I love summer :)
ReplyDeleteChange is the only force; not life, not death,
ReplyDeletenot renewal; and it shall hold a place
between the living and uncounted dead
Wise words, very philosophical! One looks to summer as offering extremes of heat to coolness at year end That can well bring adjustments in habits and diet along the way! Great write Steve!
Hank
Such an interesting and lovely poem and especially interesting to revisit in light of the weird weather we have had this week that makes summer feel almost unattainable again. I have been in city all week where I am inside almost all day--agh! Your poem describes so well, among other things, how our reactions to weather and seasons change as we age-- so hard to hold onto-- Thanks. K.
ReplyDeleteSteve, this is a stunning piece of work. Assured technically, counter-intuitive (perhaps as all good poetry should be) and weighty. So glad to have read this today..especially the notion that the status quo is actually movement and:
ReplyDeletea rare occasioned season of the mind,
simplicity in tenuous vacuum—
the patient center of my hurricane.
.. Yes.