there is no dawn or dusk no proper time of day like the depths of the dark forest we navigate November running fingers on bark and fungus to find north we lean in close listening for sap to rise and bubble signs that queuing behind winter is spring
Kim M. Russell, 15th November 2022
Free image by Martin Látal on Unsplash
For this Tuesday’s Poetics at the dVerse Poets Pub, Sarah is hosting with a November poem by Thomas Hood, which I loved reading again – like Sarah, it’s a poem I first met when I was a child.
Sarah thought it might be fun to pay tribute to Thomas Hood’s poem, seeing as we’re already in the middle of November, and she has given us options. the first is to take a line from this poem and use it as springboard for a new poem; we can golden shovel it or use it as the first line – or even the title. The second is to just say no and take a stand against something, as Hood does in his poem.
writing in north norfolk 
(shivering!)
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🙂
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Oh… splendid… but November is too early for me to even hope.
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It’s there in the background – just a little inkling.
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Oh, this is lovely, Kim – though I fear we have a long wait before we hear that sap rising. I really like the fingers/fungus slant rhyme-chime.
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Thank you Sarah! I prefer September and October to November – today I understood why, especially at 16.20 when it was pitch-black, wet , windy and cold. I shall be off to visit Ellen and the boys again on 1st December and I’m hoping the weather will be better.
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November with thoughts of spring… I like that!
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Thanks Dwight!
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The snow came so fast here and, unlike most years, it’s not melting. November is a shock to the system. I’ll have to remember listening for the sap when spring nears…
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November is a shock – so dark and cold. No snow here yet and I’m praying it will hold off until I’ve returned from my visit to Ellen and the boys at the beginning of December.
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::fingers crossed:: for you
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Thanks Lisa!
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What is this “spring”, of which thou speaketh?
If you can find North by feeling up a tree, KR, you’re my kind of woman!
Fine work. Thanks.
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🙂
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I enjoyed everything about this poem, the build to the second stanza, oh, that second stanza: sensational.
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Thank you, Maria!
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Very interesting.
much💛love
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Thanks Gillena and much love to you!
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Using the trees for compass by touch alone is such a vivid image of how light has all but disappeared.
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Thank you Dora.
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A fascinating way to find north. And what a charming way even for someone looking for north in the dark — as when one’s eyesight is failing. I like this. And yes, spring. It’s right there queuing behind winter. Spring! Our Novembers are quite mild in my area of Japan, so I gotta say, I love November. I’d vote for two springs or two autumns instead of one summer.
Adored your poem. Thanks for sharing. xoxo
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Thank you so much for adoring my poem and for your kind comments, Selma.
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Here’s to the rise and bubble of sap.
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Hear hear!
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