Notes About The Poem

I have walked this path for 15 years .  It is the place I go to soothe my soul.     

The Path Most Taken

On the  gurgling  remains of Winter 
as she seeps back into the earth  
on a path around a lake 
flanked by the casualties of winter's breath
cattails...
brown and bent with broken heads
backs turned to the pale yellow corn stock stubble 
standing in mud clad fields
that lie beneath scattered hints of green 
where a red barn and silo stand in wait 

A gentle breeze... a ripple on the lake
cattail fluff floating in the air
a symphony composed by songbirds and frogs
drifts across the land and bubbling streams
that cut across the path

Moss lies abreast the thin skin of winter
still remaining in places
where the sun never shines

A blanket of burnt amber needles
and prickly cones 
lie beneath a dark green canopy of pines 
impaled by glinting spears of sunlight
where the path...for a momeent...is lost

Thump...thump...thump.. the beat of leather souls
on wooden planks over the marshlands...

The lake erupts in torrents of water tendrils
falling from the wings 
slapping the face of the lake
as geese take to the sky...

And beyond the forest of pines... 
the  oaks and maples
display their new burgundy buds
and the few remaining 
leaves of Autumn...
all crinkled and curled
still clinging to the past
on a well-worn path
that circles around a lake 
with no beginning and no end 
where the seasons come and go...
as do... I. 

Written:  April 30, 2018
Author:  Elaine Cecelia George
Copyright © | Year Posted 2018

Poem

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Brewer Avatar
May 14, 2018 at 6:42 AM
Beautiful evocative images of a season. Well written, Elaine
George   Avatar
May 15, 2018 at 10:25 AM
Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments, Geoffrey.
Cornish Avatar
May 6, 2018 at 12:14 PM
Love this write Elaine, this a poem that would have scored high in my contest if it weren't so much over 20 lines, but I love it just the way it is--truly a painting of the season and the emotions it births.
George   Avatar
May 9, 2018 at 5:11 AM
Thank you so much, Craig...and thank you for inspiring me to write it. Elaine
Dietrich Avatar
May 1, 2018 at 6:19 PM
Utterly gorgeous and the meaning behind it is just so profound. This poem brings it home to me why I liked your poetry so much since I first met you!
Gauthier Avatar
April 30, 2018 at 6:11 PM
Lovely imagery, Elaine. Beautiful.
Devonshire Avatar
April 30, 2018 at 5:08 PM
Wow! I'm speechless. Your writing emulates that of pros like Frost and even Whitman. The way you build imagery by weaving sites and sounds into your journey is amazing, Lainie, and the ending is profound. Excellent. Hugs, Carolyn
Parker Avatar
April 30, 2018 at 1:57 PM
really like the metaphor, a really well written poem
Pandit Avatar
April 30, 2018 at 12:48 PM
I enjoyed the journey on your path. You described the imagery of winter's past and budding spring beautifully..especially liked the ending stanza and its ending line. A superb poem, Elaine.
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