Four Tao philosophers as cedar waxwings
chat on a February berry bush
in sun, and I am one.
Such merriment and such sobriety–
the small wild fruit on the tall stalk–
was this not always my true style?
Above an elegance of snow, beneath
a silk-blue sky a brotherhood of four
birds. Can you mistake us?
To sun, to feast, and to converse
and all together–for this I have abandoned
all my other lives.
(Robert Francis)
More Poetry from Robert Francis:
Robert Francis Poems based on Topics: Snow, Birds, Brotherhood- Thoreau in Italy (Robert Francis Poems)
- Hallelujah: A Sestina (Robert Francis Poems)
- Encounter (Robert Francis Poems)
- On a Theme by Frost (Robert Francis Poems)
- Squash in Blossom (Robert Francis Poems)
- New England Mind (Robert Francis Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Birds Poems, Snow Poems, Brotherhood PoemsBased on Keywords: style, february, abandoned, stalk, berry, mistake, cedar, chat, converse, merriment, sobriety