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Sunday, October 4, 2020

Falltime / Carl Sandburg


Falltime

from Redhaw Winds

Gold of a ripe oat straw, gold of a southwest moon,
Canada-thistle blue and flimmering larkspur blue,
Tomatoes shining in the October sun with red hearts,
Shining five and six in a row on a wooden fence,
Why do you keep wishes shining on your faces all day long,
Wishes like women with half-forgotten lovers going to new cities?
What is there for you in the birds, the birds, the birds, crying down on the north wind in September — acres of birds spotting the air going south?


Is there something finished? And some new beginning on the way?

~~
Carl Sandburg (1878-1967)
from Poetry, October 1918

[Poem is in the public domain in Canada and the United States]

Carl Sandburg biography

2 comments:

  1. Carl Sandburg is a giant of poetry, sadly becoming obscure to modern readers...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Marvelous example of the artistry of the overlooked Carl Sandburg by modern readers....

    ReplyDelete