By Richard Aldington
Why do you always stand there shivering
Between the white stream and the road?
The people pass through the dust
On bicycles, in carts, in motor-cars;
The waggoners go by at dawn;
The lovers walk on the grass path at night.
Stir from your roots, walk, poplar!
You are more beautiful than they are.
I know that the white wind loves you,
Is always kissing you and turning up
The white lining of your green petticoat.
The sky darts through you like blue rain,
And the grey rain drips on your flanks
And loves you.
And I have seen the moon
Slip his silver penny into your pocket
As you straightened your hair;
And the white mist curling and hesitating
Like a bashful lover about your knees.
I know you, poplar;
I have watched you since I was ten.
But if you had a little real love,
A little strength,
You would leave your nonchalant idle lovers
And go walking down the white road
Behind the waggoners.
There are beautiful beeches
Down beyond the hill.
Will you always stand there shivering?
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All week I've been saying it's Post-Travel Catch-Up and now I must acknowledge that it may also be Pre-Dogwood Spring Allergies, though for a bit there I thought I was getting a cold and allergies would definitely be preferable. It was cooler and overcast but we still have daffodils and forsythia all over the neighborhood, plus bunnies and today I saw a deer. I love spring, pollen and all. And the Orioles won, the Nationals won, Adam did pretty well at track.
In entertainment news, Jeremy Irons fails so mightily talking about gay marriage that I may either have to stop watching his movies or assume his drug problem has gotten even worse than it was when he made Dungeons and Dragons and Eragon, which he could only have done because he needed drug money. And Elementary rocks even when it steals ideas from Die Hard. Here are some photos of Paterson Great Falls National Historic Park in New Jersey, including Passaic Falls:
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