The Waste Land Footnote
Outside the leaves are falling — yellow leaves.
Inside, all my experiments with life are unraveling.
I was fooled into having faith in solid things.
Fooled by the density of wood and clay.
Fooled by April rain that brought long summer afternoons.
I didn’t know, for so many things, there is only one season.
Or that the expected guest waits even at the ruddy hour.
Who knows if the leaf returns to the vacant stem.
For the cruelty of April can also be charged to the violet months.
And only the dead cease to dream their deepest fears.
Photo courtesy of Mike Stinson
Allusions: T.S. Eliot’s, The Waste Land
This appeared in my feed at nearly exactly the time I needed to read it. Thank you Stephen, for your always beautiful words, and for your dedication to publishing them on this site.
So dark and so beautiful and so true. Reason to milk the moment as best we can, over and over, while we can.
The Waste Land Allusion is a worthy accompaniment to T.S. Eliot.
Worry is wasting today’s time to clutter up tomorrow’s opportunities with yesterday’s troubles. Anon. quoted from Bless Your Heart II
I am not as poetic as you … but all I can say is …. thank GOD we can look forward to new seasons and chapters … and pray for strength for all that God calls us to be strong for !!! And I hope to remain thankful and able to see God’s beauty and purpose all the rest of my days !!!
Thank you for inspiring us … Love and blessings to you and your family ……
Thank you very much Michael. Truly glad to read that.
Thank you Connie, I’ll take that to heart.
Thank you Ray, and thanks for the quote.
Thank you for this Jennifer.
Stephen thank you for a beautiful and poignant poem.
Thank you Ivon, very much appreciated.