October Maples

Posted on 14 October 2009 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From the Laudator:

Richard Wilbur, October Maples, Portland:

The leaves, though little time they have to live,
Were never so unfallen as today,
And seem to yield us through a rustled sieve
The very light from which time fell away.

A showered fire we thought forever lost
Redeems the air. Where friends in passing meet,
They parley in the tongues of Pentecost.
Gold ranks of temples flank the dazzled street.

It is a light of maples, and will go;
But not before it washes eye and brain
With such a tincture, such a sanguine glow
As cannot fail to leave a lasting stain.

So Mary’s laundered mantle (in the tale
Which, like all pretty tales, may still be true),
Spread on the rosemary-bush, so drenched the pale
Slight blooms in its irradiated hue,

They could not choose but to return in blue.

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About Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Fr. Z is the guy who runs this blog. o{]:¬)
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5 Responses to October Maples

  1. Magpie says:
    14 October 2009 at 11:49 AM

    Father,

    I think a really neat mini-project would be for you to take a series of photographs, from the same location, same angle, settings etc… over time. You could then put together a seasonal montage, say 3 pictures a month, and it would be wonderful to see the seasonal changes! The third photograph in the above post would be ideal in my opinion.

    Dermot

  2. Magpie says:
    14 October 2009 at 11:51 AM

    Sorry, I meant the second photo – the composition is excellent.

  3. wanda says:
    14 October 2009 at 12:38 PM

    Ahhhh. Thank you for the beautiful retreat.

    ‘All creation His Glory proclaims, with praise and thanks we bless His name.’

  4. wanda says:
    14 October 2009 at 2:56 PM

    Would anyone know of a good poetry site that would have H.W. Longfellow’s ‘The Vision Beautiful’? I’ve searched several, no luck just yet. Fr. Groeschel mentioned it and recited part of it on a program on EWTN. Now I can’t rest until I find it. Thank you!

  5. wanda says:
    16 October 2009 at 10:30 AM

    Found the poem. I had the title wrong. It is called The Theologians Prayer; The Legend Beautiful. It is lovely. Fr. Z. check it out.

    hwlongfellow.org/poems

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