Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, COMPENSATION, by ADELINE M. JENNEY


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

COMPENSATION, by                    
First Line: The moon floats grandly up through rose to blue
Last Line: With cold and death comes more abundant life.
Subject(s): Flowers; Gardens & Gardening


The moon floats grandly up through rose to blue—
A huge gold disk topping that golden hill
Of corn and peering down this golden lane
Of maples that will drop their leaves with chill,
Crisp patter all night long among my flowers.

I shall not mind: I am gathering in the few
That still have color. This two week's strain—
This nightly fear of killing frost is gone.
The reds and orange of the zinnia hedge,
The asters' purples, ambers, and gamboge
Of the nasturtiums here along the hedge,
Are all, to-day, a limp and crinkled brown:
But since they are gone, there is no more to fear.
At last, I am relaxed and can hold dear
The clear, cold wonder of the icy stars,
The splendor of this great, Leaf-falling Moon,
The loveliness of creeping storm that bars
The saffron east with clouds. My garden's grace
Is that of her who looks toward the westering sun
With peace. Having brought life to birth with face
Of daily courage, having threshed the heart
From sharply-bearded grain, she stands apart,
Content that from this savage, losing strife
With cold and death comes more abundant life.





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