“Death is the mother of Beauty” – a poem by Janet Krauss

“Death is the mother of Beauty”
Wallace Stevens

To know this truth
is to follow the path
of a gull as he glides
downward in the stillness
of a held breath.

To know this truth
is to linger as a silent
procession of small ripples
of waves makes its way
to the rocks where
it consents to stop
without a stir or sound.

To know this truth
is to watch the late autumn
sun brush the trees’ last leaves
of brown with a copper tint.
They chime in the uplift of the wind.

Janet Krauss, who has two books of poetry published, Borrowed Scenery, Yuganta Press, and Through the Trees of Autumn, Spartina Press, has recently retired from teaching English at Fairfield University. Her mission is to help and guide Bridgeport’s  young children through her teaching creative writing, leading book clubs and reading to and engaging a kindergarten class. As a poet, she co-directs the poetry program of the Black Rock Art Guild.