In addition to several poems that he shares in his recent post about September, including those of Derek Mahon, Howard Nemerov, and Bashō, Stephen Pentz offers this thought:
“I have a vague notion of what occurs when ‘the ecliptic and equator cross.’ Something to do with the movement of spheres, I suspect. But I’m reminded of my oft-repeated first principle of poetry: Explanation and explication are the death of poetry. Here is a wider principle I have adopted at this moment: Explanation and explication are the death of enchantment. The enchantment of the World, of course. Mind you, I accept the existence of the ecliptic and the equator. This is not an anti-scientific manifesto. I simply prefer, for instance, a single butterfly or a single leaf, with no explanations attached.”
-Stephen Pentz on his blog, First Known When Lost
Here is one of the poems:
THRESHOLD
When in still air and still in summertime
A leaf has had enough of this, it seems
To make up its mind to go; fine as a sage
Its drifting in detachment down the road.
-Howard Nemerov
I hope you will visit his blog and read the whole loving tribute, including evocative works of art, to the month that is soon to be gone for another year.
Gladsome Lights 
Yes, I shall visit. And the Nemerov poem comes as a pleasant surprise. Very different from what I might have expected. And very good for me to read right now. I used to “follow” his work (in print) from way back to the 60s. Around 1972, I think it was, he came to live in St Louis, where I grew up and still reside. He taught at Washington University not far from my our current neighborhood. In 1975 I took a job teaching English and Latin at University City High School, the community that borders Washington U on three sides, the 4th facing our immense and treasured Forest Park.* Two years later who should appear in my Latin class but Howard Nemerov’s son, Alexander. (I was relieved that he wasn’t in my English class for reasons you probably can understand) All went well, especially parents’ night. I was excited and nervous, wondering if I might try a bit of literary small talk, or maybe just compliment on poems (but then what if he said “Oh, which ones?” Or maybe, “Do they remind you of Horace?”). I knew that his house was in an area of University City referred to by neighbors as “the heights” because of its location a few blocks up a hill from the university itself. So I settled on an easy intro after completing a very brief conversation about Xander’s progress. Something like, “It was good to meet you, Mr. Nemerov. (I learned quickly that he was relaxed, informal, and not at all concerned with position or titles) then I added, as if I was a neighbor or at least a community member, “Oh, I understand that you live in the heights.” There was a brief shuffling of feet, a pause, and an over-his-glasses look; then his response, “Yes, and sometimes in the depths.” And he smiled, then walked to the next table to visit with another teacher. Always enjoy your posts, Gretchen. The only thing better would be to live nearby and also pray in your church. Albert
*which contains a large, well stocked museum, a world famous (maybe) zoo, an outdoor opera theater, three beautiful golf courses, and the initial structure which introduced people then to the World’s Fair in 1904. As a high school student I learned to love golf there, as an adult, to love art. Today I still learn to love art there, the more current and ever newer expressions of the human spirit.
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Albert, your personal and historical connection really fleshes out my post, and the poem by Neverov. I’m also interested to learn that you taught English and Latin; I often think about two of my high school English teachers in particular, who had a big influence on me. I can’t remember anything about writers or literature that they taught me, but it was something about their encouraging spirit, and their personalities. I imagine that you had a similarly positive effect on many young people. You have certainly encouraged me again today.
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Lovely!
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Your photograph is exquisite – a beautiful composition of colour.
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Thank you for the suggestion.
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