Turning of the Blackgum by Evelyn Corry Appelbee
This is another from the Texas Poetry Calendar 2008. I love the imagery. I really feel as if I could see the tree. Here’s a short bio of Appelbee.
Turning of the Blackgum
By Evelyn Corry Appelbee
Over sun-wallowed pavement
and along a verge of forest
where the Big Lake
riffles its prowess
and frets like a summer’s child,
the blackgum tree
holds autumn at bay
with taut arms,
and blood drips
from its fingertips.
A leaf falls, and somewhere
wild poppies bloom again
on scarred hills
and along barbed banks
and on white-crossed meadows
of familiar names.
I shudder
at the transparency
of a red leaf, falling.
Current Tea: Nutcracker tea (black tea blended with apple bits, orange peels, currants, cinnamon, almond flakes, cloves, and safflowers)
