Claire's Corner: Endurance

Poetry from Claire Sylvan’s book, Turnings

Endurance

November trees at dusk
Stretch their bony arms triumphant
Into deepening purple,
Here, still here.

The leaves they birthed and nurtured
Through the long heat, drawing earth and fire,
Air and water, deepest Mystery,
Following ancient blueprints,
Creation’s dance,
Building to a flaming extravaganza,
Are now a liability, and dance their last
To earth.

Now turning, returning energy to soil,
The wheel moves underground,
Slipping into sleep,
The mask of death.

Stripped of the lusty green,
Outrageous orange and scarlet,
The bare survivors proclaim
The elegance of endurance
The beauty of bones.

About Claire Sylvan

Born within earshot of the Atlantic, on the rugged westernmost coast of Cornwall, England, Claire has a deep affinity for rocks, water, and sacred places on earth.

Claire has lived, worked, and raised a family in Haliburton County amidst good kind friends for 35 years and 8 years in friendly Almonte. She and her partner, Bev, are known as "the Grannies" to an ever increasing population of wondrous children.