Poetry Sunday: Winter Trees

The deciduous trees have mostly shed their leaves by now and, bare-limbed, they stand prepared for a long winter nap. 

Winter arrives for real, according to the calendar, on Wednesday, but it is already present in cold spirit in much of the country. 

 We don't get much winter here in the subtropical south in most years, but still our trees shed their leaves and prepare. Just in case.

Winter Trees

by William Carlos Williams

All the complicated details
of the attiring and 
the disattiring are completed!
A liquid moon
moves gently among
the long branches.
Thus having prepared their buds 
against a sure winter
the wise trees
stand sleeping in the cold.

Comments

  1. betty-NZDecember 18, 2016 at 1:12 AM

    Lovely words to usher in the snow of winter.

    ReplyDelete
  2. CarmenDecember 18, 2016 at 12:55 PM

    "A liquid moon
    moves gently among
    the long branches..."

    I like that image. Perfect poem for this time of year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersDecember 18, 2016 at 1:18 PM

      One can see that silvery white moon floating above the bare gray branches on a cold winter night - wonderful image!

      Delete
  3. Pam's English GardenDecember 20, 2016 at 7:49 PM

    The trees are wise indeed. P. x

    ReplyDelete
  4. Judy KruegerDecember 21, 2016 at 11:45 AM

    Now I see why WCW is such an admired poet. Every line so succinct and creating an image. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersDecember 21, 2016 at 12:09 PM

      He gets right to the point, expressing big ideas with only a few words.

      Delete

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