April begins in a graveyard
the stasis of winter broken.
Bold dandelion hold my heart
and everything said and unspoken.
I have done this, and that,
often for the last time.
I go gray as the sun moves over me
arranging my bones in rhyme.
Let the lawn grow long and wild,
the caretaker drunk on his stool.
The old oaks must scoff at upstart April
and at me, a philosophizing fool.
April begins in a graveyard
with its bees more proud than the dead.
Let me doze on a bench in the half-shade
with my hand on the book still unread.
________
For What's Going On?--"April"
Music: Simon & Garfunkel The Dangling Conversation
I love this so much, the rhyming, the wonderful images, every perfect line. I especially love "I go gray as the sun moves over me / arranging my bones in rhyme."
ReplyDeleteOwoooo! I can't fully express what moves me in the poem but it's not as the song describes "cast in our indifference." More it's the graveyard alive with bees, sun, and half shade, the book unread, the lazy rhyming acceptance of what time's flow changes, how much we are always and wholly part of it. And, of, course, I love old oaks scoffing.
ReplyDeleteThis is a poem to read and savor and read again. And to think you rhymed the 2nd and 4th lines yet! Smiles. I think my favorite lines were:
ReplyDelete"I go gray as the sun moves over me
arranging my bones in rhyme." I could really picture this whole scene from your well-chosen words! Definitely a unique picture of April.
This poem is just wonderful, Shay. Too many good lines to quote but I loved this one:
ReplyDelete"I go gray as the sun moves over me
arranging my bones in rhyme."
And the way it ends is sublime 👌🏼
Oh my goodness, this poem!! Could any poem contain stanzas even better than the last? This one. This is top-shelf, Shay.
ReplyDeleteThis tight and powerful. I may go take a look at our local grave yard - see this poem in the flesh...so to speak.
ReplyDeleteI love this - what a wonderful image of spring during these sad times on the planet. Suzanne - Wayfaring blog - Wordpress
ReplyDeleteSo lovely to see how wild April wields power. Seems it will soon hold its sway on the speaker's languid demeanour. My favorite lines : 'the stasis of winter broken.' and 'I go gray as the sun moves over me
ReplyDeletearranging my bones in rhyme.'
Excellent and what an amazing opening line - Really opens up the rest of the poem. fantastic images and i love the rhyme !! Very impressive
ReplyDeleteThe mood of April receives a well-deserved chastening here, for as the poem makes us see, April is built from the dead, and flowers their secret beings without conscience. I love every perfectly chosen rhyme that makes the poem's music, but the last stanza and its resolution in both peace and resignation is my favorite. You are writing at the very top of your form, Shay.
ReplyDeleteRich, melodious, piercing, another nonpareil from your brilliant, sensitive imagination. Loved every line, but that opening echoing through every stanza, is just genius.
ReplyDeleteThat first line is so alluring Shay and every line after was just as wonderful! Your imagery is always so epic to me my friend. You are prolific and utterly amazing these days!!! I really wish you would put together another collection!
ReplyDelete"I go gray as the sun moves over me arranging my bones in rhyme."
ReplyDeleteLove that line and also "April begins in a graveyard." how true. You always amaze and inspire me with your poetry.