Poem of the Moment
Welcome to poems.
Every few weeks we pop a new poem up here to read or listen to. We only share poems that the poet has intentionally put in the public domain, or where we’ve gotten permission directly.
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Enjoy!
November for Beginners
Snow would be the easy
way out—that softening
sky like a sigh of relief
at finally being allowed
to yield. No dice.
We stack twigs for burning
in glistening patches
but the rain won’t give.
So we wait, breeding
mood, making music
of decline. We sit down
in the smell of the past
and rise in a light
that is already leaving.
We ache in secret,
memorizing
a gloomy line
or two of German.
When spring comes
we promise to act
the fool. Pour,
rain! Sail, wind,
with your cargo of zithers!
November 1981
~ Rita Dove