"I Passed a Wood of Beech Trees Yesterday"

Random Poetry List XXXVI

I passed a wood of beech trees yesterday
And I am shaken with its beauty yet.
Why should my breath catch and my eyes be wet
Because a hundred trees some yards away
Know simply how to dress in simple gray,
Are poised beyond the need of epithet,
And beautiful past power to forget?
I dare not think how they will look in May.

They wore illustrious yellow in the fall.
Their beauty is no thing at which they guess.
And when they put on green, and when they carry
Fans open in the sun or folded small,
I'll look through tears at ultimate loveliness;
Beeches in May, beeches in February.

Sr. M. Madeleva (b. 1887)

Originally e-mailed on Monday, May 14, 2001 @ 7:55 PM.

Lane Core Jr. CIW P — Sat. 05/14/05 07:22:20 AM
Categorized as Literary & Random Poetry List.