Poem for Sunday

First off, thanks to all who newly subscribed to the blog! Darren was the winner of the astrology reading raffle. We’re doing his chart today.

And now, here’s a beautiful poem written by Mimi Moore. She is my friend Elizabeth’s mother. For the last 20 years, I’ve gotten to hear her poetry and the gorgeous, simple letters she writes to Elizabeth. It’s not exactly the correct season, but I love this one. Enjoy.

Happiness is…

I watch you rake the leaves in piles
And sweep them
On to a plastic sheet
With strong, sure strokes –
A sailor, rowing in a sea of leaves.

“‘We’re doing it, Ma,” you say.

I laugh,
Happy to spend
The last, warm day of October
With you –
Watching the work.
Watching the chickadees storm the feeder,
Watching a sassy blue jay steal corn kernels
From a decorative piece on the woodshed door.

“Your turn. You’re needed.”

I get to my feet,
Help fold the ends
Of the plastic sheet
Around the leaves,
Making a fat bundle,
Like a giant, Chinese dumpling –
A perfect task
For a retired, family-pastry-cook.

I hold the bundle together
While you lash it to the wheelbarrow.

“My dear, son, Earl,
When the time comes that I,
Like a golden maple leaf,
Let fly and fall to earth,
Ready to sleep forever,
Remember this blue-sky day,
The happiness we shared
And the sea of golden leaves we swam in.”