Trees stark against the sky
show signs of hard pruning
or scars of storm damage
Sunlight shafts through leafless woods
reveals which wild seeded
and which are straight lined planting
The artificial brightnesses of our Decembers
do not touch this hard solitude
as we all wait for the future
Copyright © 2021 Kim Whysall-Hammond
This is a reworking of a poem I wrote (and blogged) in 2017. I was never sure of the ending, and I like this version better.
I was inspired to go back to this poem by the weekly prompt at Earthweal, which is all about Nadirs and Zeniths.
The Cheesesellers Wife 
I have to wonder if the “artificial brightness” we enforce in December is another example of “hard gardening” which prunes the maker most! So much for tidy nadirs!
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;)
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Oh, the heaviness of that ‘hard solitude’! This is an impactful poem.
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It’s going to be a hard winter once again
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Well observed, with a last verse apt for the times
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Thank you Derrick
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Very insightful. You’ve got a great understanding for the hidden secrets of nature, the concealed knowledge for humanity that natural things present. A great mind you are!
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Many thanks Lattiman!
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You’re welcome 😊
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“…this hard solitude….” That is an intriguing phrase. And waiting for the future showed up in my poem too. Cool.
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I’m glad you liked that phrase!
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At least there still is a wild to contrast with the planted–I love how you captured that in your “Leafless woods.” You capture the dark and the artificial bright–oh–how lonely! I think we are waiting together with all of creation. Thank you for this poem. Happy year’s end and beginning.
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Thank you Susan, and A Happy New Year!
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Everything waits, but some like the trees, wait for the next stage in the cycle of growth, not the next spending bonanza. Our artificial brightness will be the death of us. I like your ‘hard solitude’. It is hard, but life is, especially in the winter.
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These are hard times. Maybe the brightness we seek is within our own hearts rather than the artificial brightness of this age.
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Nice work, just like all your work this year cheese sellers wife, may 2022 just fly to the moon! Peace and joy at this turning of the year!
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Well, thank you Rob! A very happy, peaceful and virus-free New year to you!
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