A Pacific Northwest native, I have been writing poetry over 40 years. My poems reflect a woman’s journey through the later years, with recurring themes of loss and renewal.
I have read at many local poetry venues and am a member of Seattle Poets Table. My first book, If the Moon Came Out Only Once a Month, was published in 2012 and my current book, What the Tulips Said, was published this year.
INSTRUCTIONS ON LETTING GO
More than the ginger streamers streaking
through the aspens, more than the flagrant
flaunting of the poplar’s Chinese lanterns
against a cobalt sky, it’s the flaming of the maples
that brings me to tears. Once their painted flags
of gold and crimson start flying in the storm
of endings, the plummeting begins. One by one
they fall to the ground, tumbling, spiraling, waving goodbye
to whatever the past year did, a tribute
to letting go, burning bridges, not looking back.
Fine, the tree seems to say, that’s it, I’m done
with everything. I’ll start again next spring.
(Inspired by Ada Limon)
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I really like this, Cathy, especially this year
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This is absolutely lovely. I lived for many years in Vermont and it has a lot of meaning for me as I think back to those Falls
I’ll think of this every fall as I make my drive passing the long row of maple trees leading to my street.