Vox Populi
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Laure-Anne Bosselaar: Dusk Again
There’s a particular light when fall days die —
a haze of grayish gold, the rays dustier, lazy,
as the sun slides lower & slower behind
the persimmon tree. I shouldn’t stare
at the sun so directly, as if I could loose myself
in those rays — when they tremble a little —
inside November’s chill. It’s then the wren
comes to drink at the birdbath. It’s there
every day at this hour. We’ve grown accustomed
to each other — me, arms crossed by the kitchen’s
open door — the wren tasting the water, flitting
in & out of it, as dusk, again — again —
steals every hue of that tiny thing
as they both disappear into evening.
Copyright 2024 Laure-Anne Bosselaar
Laure-Anne Bosselaar is a Belgian-American poet, translator, professor, and former poet laureate of Santa Barbara, California. Her collections of poetry include Lately: New and Selected Poems (Sungold, 2024).
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Such peaceful solitude in this piece, yet not lonely, held by nature.
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Exquisite melancholic divine and particularly nourishing at this moment. Thank you.
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I agree. I feel strengthened by this poem after Tuesday’s debacle.
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So thoughtful, so memorable.
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Yes, I love this poem.
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A lovely, delicate poem of quiet, revelatory observation. It grants the solace I need on a day of bewilderment and disorientation. Thank you, friend.
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Well said, Ed. Thank you.
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A perfectly whole poem for a perfectly broken day. Thank you Laure-Anne and Michael.
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Thanks, Noelle. What’s the reaction in Israel to the US election?
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Michael see if you can get hold of articles by Gideon Levy, he’s what I call ‘the conscience of Israel’. You’ll find him interesting on every subject we all care about.
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Thanks, Noelle. I just read the Wikimedia article on G. Levy. Fascinating. I’ll read more of his work.
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and there it is–the way the world holds us. this is again the call to “come into the peace of wild things” … to know ourselves the way the wren knows us, the way the sun knows us …
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So beautiful. Laure-Anne’s imagery is breath-taking. How I needed this poem today.
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A beautiful poem full of images and pleasant sound.
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First thing I have seen this morning and comments are reflecting my worst fears. I will read it again before my meditation and perhaps start the day with filling the bird baths and feeders. A beautiful poem I suspect I will need to hold closely today.
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I will be rereading this poem throughout the day today. I will print it out for the days ahead. Thank you, Laure-Anne Bosselaar. Thank you, Michael Simms.
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Thank you, Laure-Anne. A sanctuary. And a solace.
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A lovely poem, Laure-Anne! I needed it particularly this a.m. Courage to you in ugly times.
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Thanks, Laure-Anne, for this poem. I’m grateful for how well you express our yearning for the world, even as the light around us fades again. Your connection of our human realm to the animals in many of your poems enlightens us, whether you are writing of the Trinity Rats of Bruges or your wren companion of Santa Barbara. If they could non-human citizens of this earth would thank you too.
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A lovely tribute for a great poet. Thank you, Jim.
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Thank you for this perfect poem for this horrifying day. A reminder that there is always beauty – something to remind us to be grateful.
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So beautiful my dear friend. Does it somehow return peace to me lost in the former dark of a night? I’d forgotten such for a moment and here this little poem bird to come and restore me to morning light.
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