In a Philosophical Vein

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By River's Edge
To Remind You when Beauty
Face Uplifted to the Sun
Dream

By River's Edge

By river's edge i took my steps
   to look upon the rising flood
and rid me of my cheerless mood
   that wintry weather rudely roused

the snow in heaps on ground and tree
   reflects the lowering sun
the river's face serenely blue
   could be the sky   at one the two

i thought if winter's failing light
   can brimming swim with luminance clear
and tranquil turn then so shall i
   respond in kind and bid go care!

the geese how peaceably they ease
   through leafless poplars' fallen shade
their passage smooth like cloth on glass
   as if to wipe the memory clean

alarmed they startled leap and thrash
   in flight upstream   no mind at all
to my illusion   affronted honks
   goodbye to still and silent symmetry

©Laurie Ashton, mmiii

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To Remind you when Beauty...

To remind you when beauty
lies dead in the grass
her cheer we can cherish
now she is done
for alas with the season
whose pleasures have flown
our eyes tracking backwards
we find beauty less

But off with such sorrow
for seasons will turn
and pleasures renewed
though breast sorely torn
feels dolour at hand
with sun sinking low
we must gather the shadows
and lay them to rest

Distress is not gain
the sun's running on
and bears us all forward
despite pain and grief
hope is a promise
that's best left to time
while beauty's reborn
in the rime and the mist

©Laurie Ashton, mmiv
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