Seeing this view alongside Horse Pen Creek Road, just south of Greensboro Country Club's Farm Course, reminds us of Emily Dickinson's poem, The name- of it- is "Autumn".* While the meaning of her complex poem is believed to reference the Civil War,** for us, it evokes the image of veins and arteries as we see orange, scarlet, and vermillion leaves on trees, completely sheared of limbs on one side. In Greensboro, Duke Energy performs this tree cutting, near power lines, because they are certified to do so and can preform the task safely. Agressive pruning is an evil necessity since so many of our power lines are above ground.
Here is Dickinson's poem:
The name- of It- is "Autumn".
The hue- of it- is Blood.
An Artery- upon the Hill-
A Vein- along the Road-
Great Globules- in the Alleys-
And oh, the Shower of Stain-
When Winds- upset the Basin-
And spill the Scarlet Rain-
It sprinkles Bonnets- far below-
It gathers ruddy Pools-
Then- eddys like a Rose away- away-
Upon Vermillion Wheels.
Before you know it, the wind will blow and the time will be upon us to get leaves hauled away. In the meantime, we'll just enjoy the great globules of colorful leaves as they cling to the arteries and veins of the trees. Should you see trees near power lines that need work, read what the city can and can't do to help (read here). Happy Monday to all!
*http://www.americanpoems.com/poets/emilydickinson/10608
** http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/edj/summary/v012/12.1cody.html
Comments