In fall,
the Big Leaf maples warm
in color,
and in time will let go
their dying leaves.
By December, the ungiving stalks
of the American Sweetgum are bare
and still,
even in wind.
We walk beside the woodyard
late one afternoon,
and my mother says,
“The leaves are turning
on the alders,”
and nods.
Her skin, the best clock,
a sundial in the angled light;
I do not know her younger years,
or the likeness of her gait at my age,
but I can recognize crow’s feet
at the edge of her eyes,
the furrowed hands
that have bathed me,
cradled me.
I drop a glove in a puddle of rainwater,
and bending to remove it,
see the reflection of my mother’s figure
see the levy of years,
the unexpected wither of skin,
as if waking to see
that it has snowed
overnight.
Published by phren-Z Magazine, 2012
c. Bri Bruce (Author) 2012
Bri Bruce Productions 
‘as if waking to see it had snowed overnight’ – wonderful!
Thank you!
If you’ve enjoyed my posts, I encourage you to check out my book, ‘The Weight of Snow,’ now available on Amazon!
http://www.amazon.com/Weight-Snow-New-Selected-Poems/dp/0991450310/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1391276879&sr=1-1&keywords=the+weight+of+snow
I am struck by the phrase “the levy of years.”
Thanks 🙂 Glad you enjoyed the poem
Ditto!
If you’ve enjoyed my posts, I encourage you to check out my book, ‘The Weight of Snow,’ now available on Amazon!
http://www.amazon.com/Weight-Snow-New-Selected-Poems/dp/0991450310/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1391276879&sr=1-1&keywords=the+weight+of+snow
Your poem has a real ease and beauty about it, a simplicity that makes it possible to be right there with you, looking at your mother, and walking in the woods. Lovely details. Your delicate photos are also very artistic.
Thanks for taking time to read my blog “Just East of Crazy Land: Adventures in Parenting.” I’m honoured! All the best for a happy 2014.
Thank you so much, your kind words are appreciated. I’m glad you enjoy my blog and that you took the time to check it out. Wishing you the best for 2014!
If you’ve enjoyed the poems I’ve posted, I encourage you to check out my book, ‘The Weight of Snow,’ now available on Amazon!
http://www.amazon.com/Weight-Snow-New-Selected-Poems/dp/0991450310/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1391276879&sr=1-1&keywords=the+weight+of+snow
“The leaves are turning on the alders” My favorite sentence. Beauty.
Thank you! 🙂 If you liked this, I might suggest looking into my book, ‘The Weight of Snow,’ available on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Weight-Snow-New-Selected-Poems/dp/0991450310/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1391276879&sr=1-1&keywords=the+weight+of+snow