Such a beautiful poem, Paul. I know it is sent to Gordon…but thanks for including the rest of us. Priscilla Wilson
On Nov 13, 2015, at 10:39 PM, Paul Schrijnen via Dialogue <dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote:
Dear Gordon,
Thank you for your uplifting and life and death affirming letter.
This poem by Clive James comes to mind. He is an Australian poet, bon vivant and academic, living in Cambridge, UK and dying. This poem appeared last year in the New Yorker.
Paul
Japanese Maple BY CLIVE JAMES <http://www.newyorker.com/contributors/clive-james> <> <>Your death, near now, is of an easy sort. So slow a fading out brings no real pain. Breath growing short Is just uncomfortable. You feel the drain Of energy, but thought and sight remain:
Enhanced, in fact. When did you ever see So much sweet beauty as when fine rain falls On that small tree And saturates your brick back garden walls, So many Amber Rooms and mirror halls?
Ever more lavish as the dusk descends This glistening illuminates the air. It never ends. Whenever the rain comes it will be there, Beyond my time, but now I take my share.
My daughter’s choice, the maple tree is new. Come autumn and its leaves will turn to flame. What I must do Is live to see that. That will end the game For me, though life continues all the same:
Filling the double doors to bathe my eyes, A final flood of colors will live on As my mind dies, Burned by my vision of a world that shone So brightly at the last, and then was gone.
On 14 Nov 2015, at 02:50, Timothy Wegner via Dialogue <dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net <mailto:dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net>> wrote:
I'm posting this for Roxanna. See attachment for Gordon's November update.
Gordon wrote: "OK, here's my latest--and final--version"
<NovemberUpdate.pdf>_______________________________________________ Dialogue mailing list Dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net <mailto:Dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net> http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/dialogue-wedgeblade.net
Paul Schrijnen 13 Bloemfontein Avenue London W12 7BJ paulschrijnen@gmail.com <mailto:paulschrijnen@gmail.com> +44 7973 206 766 skype: paulus.schrijnen
_______________________________________________ Dialogue mailing list Dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/dialogue-wedgeblade.net
Wilson Priscilla H pris@teamtechpress.com www.teamtechpress.com follow me on: Linkedin Twitter, #prishwilson Facebook