Balm

After the reunion’s excess
of company and champagne,

just the two of us ease
the canoe into the pond.

September’s leaves light lamps
around us; we paddle

into gold suffusion as if
entering a ripe pear.

Our blades low, we lean
and listen—the surface insects

hectic, the cool still depths.
A pair of wood ducks squawks

away. The fruity air softens,
darkening, as one by one

the reeds extend themselves
exactly by reflection.

– Candice Stover

Postscript:

A surfeit of socializing and gatherings can make you want to get away to a quiet, still place and find yourself again. The natural beauty is a bonus, but the solitude is definitely a needed balm.
This poem is one I came across on a site called Words from the Frontier – Poetry in Maine. You can read more about the poet, Candice Stover, there; you can also hear her read some of her poems out loud, including this one, in a little media player in the bottom right hand corner of the page.

Post a Comment

Your email is never shared. Required fields are marked *

*
*