painting by Debbie Neill
End of April
Under a cherry tree
I found a robin's egg,
broken, but not shattered.
I had been thinking of you,
and was kneeling in the grass
among fallen blossoms
when I saw it: a blue scrap,
a delicate toy, as light
as confetti
It didn't seem real,
but nature will do such things
from time to time.
I looked inside:
it was glistening, hollow,
a perfect shell
except for the missing crown,
which made it possible
to look inside.
What had been there
is gone now
and lives in my heart
where, periodically,
it opens up its wings,
tearing me apart.
- Phillis Levin
How 'bout that for an appropriate end to National Poetry Month? The poem is extra-special to me because of the person who first shared it with me. Amazing how flat words on a page can take on incredible dimensions when they are linked to an actual human experience. That's the whole point, after all.... to connect, to share, to be bound by words.
And tomorrow it's on to May. Lots going on in these parts. I'll keep you posted. Meanwhile, thanks for reading!
end of April. how beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThanks Irene for the wonderful collection of poems you posted during the month of April.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful poem and beautiful painting to go along with it. This will stay with me for days:
ReplyDeleteIt didn't seem real,
but nature will do such things
from time to time.
Food for the soul.
Thanks, Irene, for all your beautiful poems this month. I have so enjoyed reading. This is a lovely way to end the month.
ReplyDeleteYes, this is just lovely, lovely. Thanks for sending me to this poem, Irene!
ReplyDeletexxx,
AHW from teachingauthors