So Long

We loiter in winter while it is already spring. - Thoreau

unwilling to release their antique, arthritic grip

in the long forgotten dead of winter

stubborn, atrophied leaves are ripped from shivering trees

by a cruel, frozen breeze

like pages from a taboo book

falling on heavy, crusted snow

refusing to go

they shudder

coming to rest at my mourning feet

realizing they no longer belong

pondering why they got the seasons wrong

wondering why they stayed so long

without so much as a, "so long"

Author's Note

"Hear! hear!" screamed the jay from a neighboring tree, where I had heard a tittering for some time, "winter has a concentrated and nutty kernel, if you know where to look for it." - Thoreau

Reviews

[barleygirl]

I love the photo of stubborn snowy leaves, along with your powerful description of hanging on. The leaf-hanging-on part of your poem is killer! This is so symbolic in so many ways. We are all holding on to some excruciating winter that we need to let go of, not least of all the Trump s**t show (in my festering opinion). Here, we're still dipping down close to freezing every morning & I'm sick of it, but how can I complain when it's 80* in the afternoons? Speaking of which . . . no rain, so I gotta go water my garden! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Pete]

i am always amazed at those leaves that never went to let go and fall. we've had quite a bit of precip both rain and snow - i think we're more than caught up now. it has been cold but there are signs it is changing. 40's for highs this week and i notice the sun stronger and higher in the sky. your thoughts are right on the mark and welcomed like spring ... :)

[lightsong]

This leaves me with sad and dismal feelings, makes me think of the people who think of themselves as "unwanted" or the other ones who don't fit in life, You can bring the emotion in strong way my friend.

[lightsong]

Can I ask about the song You shared? It's unavailable in my country so I don't know what it is. but for me I've been listening last week to (so long) by Century, even used it into one of my poems but removed it later, your poem here does ring that song.

[Pete]

the song is alanis morisette doing a cover of sting/the police song 'king of pain' in acoustic. she has a unique, amazing voice and i think it is a beautiful song ... :)

[lightsong]

Oh, I do know her but I don't think I've heard her cover of the Police, will check it soon :)