Poetry Sunday: They Sit Together on the Porch


It is November. The year is winding down. Time to think about...time. About the passage of time. And about growing old together. No one does that better than Wendell Berry.

They Sit Together on the Porch

BY WENDELL BERRY
They sit together on the porch, the dark
Almost fallen, the house behind them dark.
Their supper done with, they have washed and dried
The dishes–only two plates now, two glasses,
Two knives, two forks, two spoons–small work for two.
She sits with her hands folded in her lap,
At rest. He smokes his pipe. They do not speak,
And when they speak at last it is to say
What each one knows the other knows. They have
One mind between them, now, that finally
For all its knowing will not exactly know
Which one goes first through the dark doorway, bidding
Goodnight, and which sits on a while alone.

Comments

  1. Pam's English GardenNovember 3, 2014 at 6:00 AM

    It seems I end every conversation -- on blogs and talking with friends -- with the comment, "Where did the time go?" The poem could be me and my love with 'one mind between us.' I'm of that age, though he is younger. Just glad I'm not sitting on the porch alone. P. x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersNovember 3, 2014 at 8:44 AM

      So am I, Pam.

      Delete
    2. AndrewMay 6, 2024 at 1:18 PM

      Amen Pam! preach it girl

      Delete
    3. Brody vanderZwaagMay 6, 2024 at 1:19 PM

      Yass Sister!!! Luv you!!!

      Delete
    4. Brody vanderZwaagMay 6, 2024 at 1:23 PM

      I really love this poem, in fact it really reminds me on the poem "Lamentation for the snail I accidentally stepped upon" It is so heart warming, and I love this. I appreciate the Poem Sunday Idea, and altho I am 16 I will follow this every week until I am 90.

      Delete
    5. AnonymousMay 6, 2024 at 1:24 PM

      Wow Pam! So insightful:) I've always liked this poem but your words of wisdom really made me love it more. Recently my daughter lost her first beauty pagent and its really taken a toll on our family. As sad as I am for my baby girl, I think it's time for our family to move on. Plus my son has his pagent coming up too! I will make sure to share these helpful thoughts about this poem with my family. Thank you for saving my family!!!!

      Delete
  2. AndrewMay 6, 2024 at 1:22 PM

    The only thing that frustrates me about this post is the fact that the caption under the title contains a sentence starting with conjunction. This is not grammatical correct according to my English 2 class.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousMay 6, 2024 at 1:26 PM

      Oh my golly goshers! I didn't even notice this LOL

      Delete
  3. AndrewMay 6, 2024 at 1:23 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete

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