Poem by Emily Pauline Johnson (1861-1913)

AKA Tekahionwake 

 

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Thistle-Down

 

    Beyond a ridge of pine with russet tips
    The west lifts to the sun her longing lips,

    Her blushes stain with gold and garnet dye
    The shore, the river and the wide far sky;

    Like floods of wine the waters filter through
    The reeds that brush our indolent canoe.

    I beach the bow where sands in shadows lie;
    You hold my hand a space, then speak good-bye.

    Upwinds your pathway through the yellow plumes
    Of goldenrod, profuse in August blooms,

    And o'er its tossing sprays you toss a kiss;
    A moment more, and I see only this -

    The idle paddle you so lately held,
    The empty bow your pliant wrist propelled,

    Some thistles purpling into violet,
    Their blossoms with a thousand thorns afret,

    And like a cobweb, shadowy and grey,
    Far floats their down - far drifts my dream away.

 

 

More information on Emily Pauline Johnson

 

 





Poetry by Editorial Team The PoetBay support member heart!
Read 168 times
Written on 2023-02-13 at 00:00

Tags Canadian  Mohawk  Tekahionwake 

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