Poem: Poplars | Rhewal

Archive photo (Photo: Pixabay)

The following poem has been selected for publication in the AVBOB Poetry Library and is republished with the permission of the AVBOB Poetry Project . To view this library of more than 18,000 poems in all 11 national languages, click here.

“Populiere” by Hannes Visser

Poplars

in your winter you asked
that we have to turn your bed
you wanted to see the poplars
before their winter comes

you told us your stories
of growing up together and among them
play and fall in love and get married
while their leaves rain on you

we pushed your bed up to the window
and opened the curtains early in the morning
so you could talk to your poplars
and for the last time watch them change color

and then the leaves in ocher and orange
their journey to earth began you
close your eyes and sacrifice together
dropped off to start your new season.

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