October

By Robert Frost 

O hushed October morning mild,
Thy leaves have ripened to the fall;
Tomorrow’s wind, if it be wild,
Should waste them all.
The crows above the forest call;
Tomorrow they may form and go.
O hushed October morning mild,
Begin the hours of this day slow.
Make the day seem to us less brief.
Hearts not averse to being beguiled,
Beguile us in the way you know.
Release one leaf at break of day;
At noon release another leaf;
One from our trees, one far away.
Retard the sun with gentle mist;
Enchant the land with amethyst.
Slow, slow!
For the grapes’ sake, if they were all,
Whose leaves already are burnt with frost,
Whose clustered fruit must else be lost—
For the grapes’ sake along the wall.

I Will Not Speak Your Name

By Marilynn Carter

You spread
around the world
like weeds
infiltrating every
   country
      state
         city
            town
rich and poor as equals
none spared

Joined all as ONE
searching to reclaim
normalcy, health, freedom

Silence fills the air
deserted streets
occasionally 
a siren or passing car
echoing on the wind

You have a name
everyone whispers
written everywhere

I cannot, will not
speak your name
fuel its power

Despite your ferociousness
responders tirelessly work

Massive quarantines
restrict movement

indoors
separate, alone
we turn inwards
self discovery 
enfolds

outdoors
social distancing
virtual hugs
becomes new norm

Masked and gloved
embarking on
necessary activities

Elders
compromised
  weak
    immune
      systems
overwhelmed
   organs
ravaged
   bodies
squeezing
   breath from life
those you touch

Many forced to leave
   far to soon
      some without family goodbyes
overworked healthcare workers
   hold hands
      lend comfort
        til last breath
          little pieces of self
            fall away
              lost

Recharging
   important
      fill in emotions
         empty spaces
            overwhelming
               loss
  
Earth, shuddered, shifting
   changes needed
      for way to long

Appreciation for Mother Nature and ourselves
   healing now begins

We see, feel, smell, know
the earth and us
   together experience transformation
      our true selves unearthed
together
   better
      stronger

Mother Earth adjusts
  We follow

Springtime virus dissipating
bringing us together again
filling us up with
   Forgiveness
   Gratitude
   Compassion
   Love of Life
         FOR 
                  ourselves
                  each other
                  the world
                  the Earth
 
We are forever recreated and changed!

Marilynn Carter is a holistic health practitioner, teacher and life coach at Many Paths for Health; co-owner of Maat Publishing; and author of two books, No Fret Cooking, and Experience the Love Light Wisdom of Reiki. Her poetry has appeared in Trouvaille Review; the Merrimac Mic Anthology II: Going with the Floes; Lunation, A Good Fat Anthology of 114 Women Poets; and Klarissa Dreams Redux: The Illuminated Anthology; at the Metheun Arts outdoor poetry installation, Words by Winter Waterfall; Word Play, a virtual exhibit of poetic art and Trouvaille Review. Additionally, she had an essay on dowsing published in Lobster Tails. Her first chapbook of poetry will appear in 2021.