There is a beauty in the withering . . .
as if through sheer will power
life endures in fragility.
Color long faded
veins protruding
curling inward . . .
Death shall not win
until snow blankets the earth
to comfort its fall.
Written for dVerse, the virtual pub for poets, where today Mish is hosting and asks us to write a poem in which we find beauty in the ugly. Pub opens at 3 PM Boston time. Come join us!
lillian the home poet 
Oh my. This is beautiful. “Beauty in the withering “…You outdid yourself in this poem. One of your best.
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You made my day, my friend! Thank you!
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The imagery and the depth is amazing here. Beauty in the withering, …beautiful!
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Thank you, Tanya. Your kind words are much appreciated!
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My pleasure, you did a wonderful job!
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I absolutely love your last stanza. You completely captured the beauty there is in the act of dying…and that is not an easy feat. Just amazing work, Lillian!
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Thank you, Jade, for your kind words. So glad you enjoyed!
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There is beauty in the withering- oh, what a lovely thought. Especially as we age. I love this Lillian!
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Thank you! So glad you enjoyed.
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There is indeed beauty in the withering – in the seasons of autumn and winter, when death waits so near.
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Yes….they seem to me to be more quiet and contemplative seasons as well.
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so beautiful Lillian, to see the beauty of something that is aging, the gracefulness of a life it once had slowly reaching its end, yet holding on just a little while more for something or someone to say, you are beautiful as you are seen now, i really loved the feel of this poem
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Oh Gina….what a beautiful and thoughtful comment. Thank you so much for your thoughts here. Yes…..exactly yes.
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Beautiful tribute, for surely all those withering leaves combine for a gorgeous show!
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So glad you enjoyed, Beverly.
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“Death will not win”….at least not yet. Love the sentiment.
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Motivated by ny dear friend who last year lost her 2+ year with ovarian cancer. She never gave up fighting. And there was always beauty in her will to live.
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Sorry to hear of your loss. There is beauty in the will to live – so true.
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Very nice! I almost did the leaves…but didn’t.
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Thanks, Mary. Glad you enjoyed!
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A beautiful thought in your poem, Lillian. I love your line about fragility. It reminds me that we who write poetry are like the leaf. We live life on the edge of that fragile inspiration that is gone if we don’t latch on to it.
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Loving your comment here! Yes, I’ve learned to get up in the middle of the night to jot something down…..if I don’t, it’s surely gone the next day!
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Your first line is so strong….and I love the idea of the snow blanketing the leaf’s fall. Death should be honoured as a beautiful exit from life. I think you did that in this poem.
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Thank you, Mish. This was a very thoughtful prompt. I’ll be back on the reading trail in a few moments.
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SMiLes.. Lillian
Every Brown
Leaf
Food
For THOught
For ‘Leaves of Grass’.. too..
iN OTheR Words Nature Consumes
NaTurE NoW
How Beautiful
iT iS To Be Whole
This Way Allone
Never Separate
False iN aN
iLLuSioN
oF
Alone
Away From Allone True..:)
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SMiLes Right back at you, Katie! Glad you enjoyed.
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Thanks Lillian…
This Entire Human
Prompt
Is Truly
A Sacred
Answer
For
Me…
A Lifelong
Work to Love
The Least As Most
As That Becomes
Even
More
Challenging
These Days
In the Ugly
H u M A N
Politics of
Falling
Human Souls…
Never the Less
Always Nice
To
See You
iN A Beginning
Note of SMiLes
And FriEnds
Who
Don’t End..
iN Quantum
Entanglement
D A N CES oNG
At Large.. No
Distance.. Space
Or Time No Matter
WHaT The smART
Strongest
Force oF
NaTurE LoVE..:)
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Ahhh. My favorite season. You made it so tender and sweet, Lill!
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I do love the fall and winter….they seem, for me, to be more contemplative seasons.
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I agree. It is a dream to see and experience one. It is my beloved one. 😊
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A stunning poem, Lill! ‘There is a beauty in the withering’ is a fabulous opening line and I love:
‘Death shall not win
until snow blankets the earth
to comfort its fall’.
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Thank you for the lovely comment, Kim, Truly appreciated.
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I like how snow comforts the fall.
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kaykuala
through sheer will power
life endures in fragility.
It takes strength of character for one to face challenges even when one has to endure unlikely
distractions and obstacles.. Very true Lillian!
Hank
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Indeed Lillian, ‘there is a beauty in the withering’ excellent opening line. Autumn being my favorite season, the leaves of various colors blanketing the earth, yes beautiful to my eyes and senses. lovely poem.
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This made me think of ageing hands, curling on themselves. Lovely imagery.
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I so love the last stanza… the snow as a gentle blanket… death in peace for a falling leaf
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Positively enchanting 💕🙂
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A nice thought about the leaf’s mind waiting for snow for the most graceful landing-final breath-death. Beautiful photo with this too.
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“Beauty in the withering” – what a lovely way to see this. Loved the photo with this as well, Lillian.
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Beautiful😍
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You really do have a way with the words Lillian. There are a few of my desert willows still hanging onto their leaves here in the high desert and your words resonate with me this morning. Simply beautiful. All my best to you. Thank you.
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What a lovely comment to see this afternoon. Thank you!
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