Better late than never, right? It’s been three days since All Souls Day, but I’m still mulling over Louise Glück’s creepy and just-right poem, “All Hallows.”
Image Hay Bales On Freshly Harvested Fields” Courtesy of Franky242/ freedigitalphotos.net
I like that the particular line I’ve quoted in the post’s title captures the dichotomy of the end of fall (well, at least here it feels like the end of fall, even if there are technically six more weeks until winter) — it’s difficult to discern, sometimes, whether it feels like the ground underfoot is dying or bursting with life.
Just now the first stanza of the poem, which begins, “Even now this landscape is assembling.” suggests to me a painting, I think a Monet, of the gathered hay covered in lavender snow. Come to think of it, I can bring to mind several summer and spring paintings, and not a few decked with snow, but I’m having a difficult time coming up with a fall painting (if you have one you like, let me know!). Maybe that’s because, as the first line suggests, autumn “is assembling” itself for winter; it’s a flux-state, not even, really, itself.
Rosemary and Reading Glasses 
I LOVE the poems you’ve been listing. That last line sent shivers down my spine! You’re going to make me a poetry reader if you keep it up, Carolyn! Unfortunately for us down here in Texas, it does NOT feel like the end of fall. It doesn’t even feel like the beginning of fall. (Well, maybe it does a little.) What’s fall? I miss it. It used to be my favorite season before I lived somewhere with only two seasons, summer (six months long) and sort of winter. Well, maybe more like fall, but without the crispness and the vibrant leaves.
Thank you so much, Kay! Poetry makes me so happy (which is an ungraceful way to put it, but my brain is fried from writing), and I’m thrilled that you are finding some enjoyment in it 🙂
Fall is always too short here. Either it’s a last gasp of warm weather, or frigid air. Feel like only two or three weeks of real sweaters-but-no-coats fall.
Better than no fall!
True!
Yes, I think you select wonderful poems! I like how the poem begins and ends with suspense.
Hope you had a good Halloween!
Thanks Cecilia 🙂 We had a very nice Halloween. H was carted about by his parents and given free chocolate, and still went to bed at eight, so I think that’s a win-win!
I actually wish these poetry posts were longer. I know you’re doing NaNoWriMo, so disregard this request, but it’s the biggest compliment I can give to someone talking about poetry 😀
Thank you!!! I love writing about poetry, but I’m always afraid that if I chatter on too long, readers will be bored. Also, I’m very, very wary about copyright laws, so with newer poems, I’m hesitant to quote at length.
I’ll bring out the big guns for John Donne in December, though. 🙂
Woo!