Rapids

(Triptych by Mark Rothko, 1903-1970, American painter)

Through the leaves — a glimpse of eternity.

RAPIDS

Fall’s leaves are redder than
spring’s flowers, have no pollen,
and also sometimes fly, as the wind
schools them out or down in shoals
or droves: though I
have not been here long, I can
look up at the sky at night and tell
how things are likely to go for
the next hundred million years:
the universe will probably not find
a way to vanish nor I
in all that time reappear.

~ A. R. Ammons (1926-2001), American poet

Eyesight

(Lost Cloud by André Kertész, 1894-1985,
Hungarian-born photographer)

EYESIGHT

It was May before my
attention came
to spring and

my word I said
to the southern slopes
I've

missed it, it
came and went before
I got right to see

don't worry, said the mountain,
try the later northern slopes
or if

you can climb, climb
into spring: but
said the mountain

it's not that way
with all things, some
that go are gone

~ A. R. Ammons (1926-2001), American poet