Leaf me alone!

On this Veterans’ Day, let US proudly remember all the soldiers’ sacrifices. Let US bow our heads to honor them and thank them for everything.

Before the storm, the back, side and front yards were in “fair to middlin’” shape having been cleared of leaves two or three times already. They are now covered again in leaves, wet leaves. What is even more astounding is the amount of leaves still attached to branches. Many of those leaves won’t come down until next spring, when the buds of new leaves swell and loosen the old year’s stems.

If we get some sunshine and drying, I’ll mulch the latest batch of fallen leaves. I’ve not the heart nor motivation to rake, and have run out of edges to which the leaves can be blown. The weather patterns are making it tough to plan what to do next for outside chores. We still have wildflower and clover seeds to be scattered on bare patches of dirt. It would be helpful, I think, to get the seeds spread just before snow cover comes and stays but it’s a real challenge guessing when that may be.

The Xerces Society, among other folks, have some guidance about leaf cover helping pollinators and others overwinter. Creeping charlie and violets have taken over much of what  used to be the front lawn. The north side is almost entirely shaded. The south is wooded and the west (backyard) is abandoned farm field and failed orchard full of pocket gopher mounds. Naturalizing seems like the wisest course and I’m grateful for the excuse of helping polllinators. With a little more study and resolve, I may finally learn to go with the flow instead of constantly trying to swim upstream. [Yes, I know I mixed my metaphors. Consider it misdirected poetic license.]

#leavetheleaves

 

Leaves Fell

By Juhan Liiv

Translated from the Estonian by H.L. Hix & Jüri Talvet

A gust roused the waves,

leaves blew into the water,

the waves were ash-gray,

the sky tin-gray,

ash-gray the autumn.

It was good for my heart:

there my feelings were ash-gray,

the sky tin-gray,

ash-gray the autumn.

The breath of wind brought cooler air,

the waves of mourning brought separation:

autumn and autumn

befriend each other.

 

Notes:

Read the translator's notes on this poem. 

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