The Last Rose of Summer Not Alone
Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem
Joan Sutherland – “Last Rose of Summer” (1963) – YouTube [Turn down the volume on this old recording or the singing will be distorted.]
In spite of what the art song lilts, the last,
Last rose is not alone. Although the limbs
Now hold no other roses (summer past),
This rose is not alone. The robin swims
In green, green air, still, almost never still
Because of songbirds and their notes and breeze.
Throat melodies roulade across and fill
The branches and then float among the trees,
Float up with blue tits, great tits, sparrows, wings,
And blackbirds. Winter storms come on and drop
Their rain upon the flower. The blossom springs
Up slightly after every tiny plop.
The birds—and forming, clinging, drips — enthrone
The bloom, are peers. This rose is not alone.
~ Phillip Whidden