L. Ashton, Poetry: In a Philosophical Vein

In a Philosophical Vein

By River's Edge

By river's edge i took my steps
to look upon the rising flood
and rid me of my cheerless mood
that wintry weather rudely roused

the snow in heaps on ground and tree
reflects the lowering sun
the river's face serenely blue
could be the sky at one the two

i thought if winter's failing light
can brimming swim with luminance clear
and tranquil turn then so shall i
respond in kind and bid go care!

the geese how peaceably they ease
through leafless poplars' fallen shade
their passage smooth like cloth on glass
as if to wipe the memory clean

alarmed they startled leap and thrash
   in flight upstream   no mind at all
to my illusion   affronted honks
   goodbye to still and silent symmetry

©Laurie Ashton, mmiii

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To Remind You when Beauty...

To remind you when beauty
lies dead in the grass
her cheer we can cherish
now she is done
for alas with the season
whose pleasures have flown
our eyes tracking backwards
we find beauty less

But off with such sorrow
for seasons will turn
and pleasures renewed
though breast sorely torn
feels dolour at hand
with sun sinking low
we must gather the shadows
and lay them to rest

Distress is not gain
the sun's running on
and bears us all forward
despite pain and grief
hope is a promise
that's best left to time
while beauty's reborn
in the rime and the mist

©Laurie Ashton, mmiv
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Face Uplifted to the Sun

Face uplifted to the sun
the flower grows in stature
the tallest of the tall unravelled
now its day is almost done
yellow-bright locks shrivelled
a crown upside down
huge head bowed as if in sorrow
like its namesake
sunny disposition in transition
ending a season in a cycle
self's end division of identities
a duty demanded
by the veritable nature of the intent
provident lore through the ages
"going to seed"
which is conceding
posterity priority
reconciliation
with what brought us hence
a vital omnipotence

Dream

Last night
         i saw a
                   lonely road
                         it wound
                and wound
        and as i wended
  i found it
              lying wounded
                        beside a ditch
                  curled up like a
             snake
      biting its own
tail
      and i know
              i am
                    that lonely road
              oh god i'm sick
          of gorging on myself
such helplessness!

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