Homework May: Seasons of Life

[Catherine Lee]

Seasons of Life

They say life that knows not love is like a year without the spring,
and that season yielded plenty long ago
when oblivious and carefree we would fritter time away
like bright butterflies alighting to and fro.

Then the summers taught us lessons, gaining knowledge of the world,
with its complex web of people and events -
tears and laughter, heartache, understanding, complicated rules,
situations that we couldn’t circumvent.

Now the leaves of time are changing and I feel each ache and pain
as I wonder at the circle’s swift advance
which in spring seemed full of promise, almost infinite, and free,
with such endless possibility and chance.

Do I really now reside within an autumn’s golden glow
with a winter spectre lying there in wait?
If I ponder my mistakes and all I’ve learned along the way,
will it make me smile, or put me in a state?

No! The gentle rain is dancing on my window, where a bird
perches lightly, spreading seeds of joy with song.
So I shake myself from reverie, chastise my idle mind,
take some time to breathe, be thankful I belong.

There’s no point lamenting long-lost spring, nor summer’s pretty dance,
nor to wonder when our winter will arrive!
So I greet another day of blessings, throwing curtains wide,
filled with gratitude to simply be alive.

© Catherine Lee

[Terry]

Very well constructed Catherine,
I like the way you coupled our lives with the changing of seasons, and I think most of us can relate to that.
It's written with all your usual skill as well.

Terry

[Catherine Lee]

Thank you very much, Terry x

[Gary Harding]

Catherine,
Your poem Seasons Of Life takes the reader on an interesting seasonal journey, making some good observations along the way.
I believe that all your poems are best read several times to fully grasp their content... and Seasons Of Life is no different.

Feeling aches and pains.. presumably as one gets older
Pondering mistakes .... but then pondering successes too
Appreciating being alive and being grateful for it. Positivity.
Knowing that life without real Love is like missing a season of the year. But real love might itself take seasons to find.

Even if it is general in nature, I can only presume that your words are meant to be a broad portrait of your own life. I think I am right in saying that.

To be honest, a semi-prose verse is not my field so I cannot offer anything useful about your style here. Rhyme and meter don't seem to feature, I don't think..

Life's ..
".... complex web of people and events -
tears and laughter, heartache, understanding, complicated rules,
situations that we couldn’t circumvent."

Those things we all share I guess. Hopefully not too many tears and heartaches though? Sensory Pleasure, yes.. and the satisfaction of jobs well done. Fighting and mostly winning. The beauty of being WHO we are, inside and outside... faults and all.

You note the "winter spectre" which of course is the Future, and unlike the Past, it is unknown.
Lately I am guilty of thinking of the future too much ...... those chill winter winds are just beginning to blow. Ha!

Your analogy of life's complexities and progressions, and the changing seasons, is interesting. I never know where you manage to find the words that you do!!! Or the ideas either.

You always know what to say in absolutely all your writing and this is an example. Catherine, well done in producing this short and effective verse.

"filled with gratitude to simply be alive"..... YEP, absolutely.

Gary

[Catherine Lee]

As always, Gary, thank you so much for your in-depth feedback. I guess we probably all start to ponder such things at a certain time of life, and I too am guilty of sometimes thinking of the future and/or dwelling on the past a little too much occasionally. So yes, a broad portrait in that sense, and reflections of various paths taken. We will of course never know what might have happened if we’d taken different ones, but thankfully mine have so far led me to a happy and healthy place. Hence when I feel myself thinking along these lines, I always like to shake myself and focus on a positive note of gratitude. “You always know what to say in absolutely all your writing”…wow, this is high praise indeed – thank you!!

[Ron]

Hi Catherine,
A beautiful poem with your usual high standard and with great use of the prompts.
As mentioned your comparisons of the seasons, and life itself are very clever, and I agree, that cycle of life does seem to turn faster the older we get!
And the 'what if' question brought to mind the poem by Robert Frost, 'The Road Not Taken'.
Well done.
Ron.

[Catherine Lee]

Such lovely comments, Ron - thank you so much. Yes, the "What if?" question is always interesting to ponder now and again - as long as we can do so with no regrets. Really appreciate your kind and thoughtful feedback. Thanks once again xo