Waiting
July 6, 2023To Elsie
July 6, 2023To Waken An Old Lady
Old age is
a flight of small
cheeping birds
skimming
bare trees
above a snow glaze.
Gaining and failing
they are buffeted
by a dark wind —
But what?
On harsh weedstalks
the flock has rested —
the snow
is covered with broken
seed husks
and the wind tempered
with a shrill
piping of plenty.
William Carlos Williams
William Carlos Williams (1883-1963) was an American poet and physician who was associated with the Modernist movement. He is known for his use of everyday language and for his experiments with form and style. His most famous works include "Spring and All" and "The Red Wheelbarrow." Williams was also a mentor to many younger poets, including Allen Ginsberg.