The Gentian weaves her fringes

Another poem saying good-bye to summer. I enjoy her voice in this poem - a little playful, a little sad. But is it only summer that she is saying good-bye to? Is she addressing the larger letting go? That is the beauty of poetry - it brings out different feelings, thoughts and ideas for different readers. What does this one say to you?

#18
The Gentian weaves her fringes -
The Maple's loom is red -
My departing blossoms
Obviate parade.

A brief, but patient illness -
An hour to prepare,
And one below this morning
Is where the angels are -
It was a short procession,
The Bobolink was there -
An aged Bee addressed us -
And then we knelt in prayer -
We trust that she was willing -
We ask that we may be.
Summer - Sister - Seraph!
Let us go with thee!

In the name of the Bee -
And of the Butterfly -
And of the Breeze - Amen!
- Emily Dickinson c.1858

The morns are meeker than they were

One of Emily Dickinson's many gifts was her ability to evoke the seasons in her poetry. She can make you feel spring in the dead of winter, and decorate the world in fall colors, as she does here.

#12
The morns are meeker than they were -
The nuts are getting brown -
The berry's cheek is plumper -
The Rose is out of town.

The maple wears a gayer scarf -
The field a scarlet gown -
Lest I should be old fashioned
I'll put a trinket on.
c. 1858

It's a simple poem, but doesn't it just capture the feeling at this time of year? Her nature poems are some of my favorites. I think I'll go dress in fall . . .