“Everything is blooming most recklessly; if it were voices instead of colors, there would be an unbelievable shrieking into the heart of the night.” - Rainer Maria Rilke
For every part of the world where a dismal Winter reigns, there is an antipodean Summer. Dreary Autumn is diametrically opposed to another part of the world where the blush of Spring colours the earth’s cheek. To every coin two sides, heads you win, tails I lose. To every story there are two versions, his and hers. For every relationship two endings, one happy and one sad…
Spring in the Antipodes
A brilliant day today, Spring!
Sky sapphire-blue,
Sun shining strong, golden-warm.
Unlike the sickly silver sunshine
Of two weeks ago in Winter.
Spring!
The buds have swelled
On plum trees,
And the wattles a riot of yellow
That I have just noticed today.
In the garden, my anemones
Have bloomed purple and red.
And I, ensconced deeply
In the dark recesses of my office,
I labour under reams of paper,
And do battle with numbers,
Trying to discipline them,
Getting them to abide by the
Budgetary constraints…
Outside my window,
Birds flutter, their twitters
A distraction as are the emerald leaves,
Newly sprung on street trees.
With afternoon tea comes sympathy,
And loneliness that lurks in the stairwell,
Also in the dimly lit corridor,
Illuminated by cold neon lights
(a special pity today!)
My pigeon hole bare of letters
Again today, you do not speak to me
Your face sullen, your eyes a cool blue.
I won’t speak either.
Where is my optimistic morning mood?
And the day marches on
And evening comes quickly
(in Spring, days are still short).
Back home,
The nagging insistence of night falling:
“The temperature will drop to 3˚C tonight…”
And then it’s dead of night,
Spring just a phantom
Once again this year…
Poetry Wednesday is hosted by Jacqui BB
This poem speaks to me of the autumn I am facing on the other side of the world. There is something about the "little seasons" which causes a restlessness, a yearning which you portray wonderfully here.
ReplyDeleteYes, restlessness is the word for it. We've been having some false autumn weather here. I recognize the distractions and the lonely feelings this poem describes.
ReplyDeleteNicholas, your introduction was as poetic as the selection.
Incredibly poignant. Sad like a passing dream, romance, life.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of your saddest poems, Nicholas. The contrast between the heady optimism of spring morning and the dark pessimism of evening autumn mirrors the feelings you describe.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!
It is said that every cloud has a silver lining. How true is that I wonder.
ReplyDeleteYou have made me remember with some sadness, of a late autumn many moons ago when "Back home,The nagging insistence of night falling:".
yes, I have to agree that this poem has a quiet sadness.
ReplyDelete