Vox Populi
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James Crews: Possibility Still Exists
in the longer shadows of lawn chairs,
in the rusted-out and faded heads
of goldenrod that once bloomed as if
to paint the whole summer field yellow,
a rival for the endless sun.
But you have to look harder now,
through the thinning crowns of maples
to visible patches of cornflower blue
in the cracks between quilted clouds,
and to the shed roof where moss thrives
attached to each shingle, a tiny forest
finding all it needs in the boundary layer.
The smell of smoke’s now in the air,
which means a fire is not far off.
Which means something will kindle in you
if you let it, if you twist the pages
of newsprint into tinder piled against
old egg cartons in the wood stove.
You too can learn the art of rebirth,
watch the old life smolder and burn.
Copyright 2023 James Crews
James Crews is the author of the essay collection, Kindness Will Save the World, and editor of the forthcoming The Wonder of Small Things: Poems of Peace & Renewal. A widely published poet, James lives with his husband in the woods of Southern Vermont.
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James’ poems are always so spot-on for me.
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Me too, Lisa.
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“Which means something will kindle in you
if you let it…”
YES! Thank you James!
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Beautiful poem!!!
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But you have to look harder now,
through the thinning crowns of maples
to visible patches of cornflower blue
in the cracks between quilted clouds, — lovely!
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Yes, I love the imagery of this poem.
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Early in the morning, I intend to be ministered to by this poem over coffee, ” But you have to look harder now” it says, ” in the cracks… of the clouds and the shed roof… a tiny forest
finding all it needs in the boundary layer”… I have thought of this before. James Crews tells me ” You too can learn the art of rebirth,”
Thank you for this poem…it’s a beautiful morning.
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Thank you, Luz!
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Well done James
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We’ll-done, indeed.
M
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