California Winter Comments
It is winter in California, and outside
Is like the interior of a florist shop:
A chilled and moisture-laden crop
Of pink camellias lines the path; and what
...
Read full text
A fair evocation of California. I have two caveats: “ By noon the fog is burnt off by the sun...” This is a summer weather pattern in California. It rarely happens in winter. “Beautiful they are not; they oppress the heart...” Strange take on the California redwoods. I’ve never met anyone who thought these trees were anything other than beautiful.
" oldest living things" clearly refers to the Bristlecone pine, Pinus longaeva, which can reach 4800 years. " gigantism" is confusing, as this certainly suggests the far taller redwoods. To me both are magnificently beautiful, in different ways.
The California of my heart’s desire. An ex pat, this how I remember it.
The subtle unforced rhyming pattern is brilliant the images evocative and spot on
The poetry angel is in the details and words of every line of this poetic evocation of CA.
But this land grows the oldest living things, Trees that were young when Pharoahs ruled the world, ==== ........ There doesn't seem to be much that this author can't handle, does there? Philosophy, grief, joy, beauty, war, despair, hope .
my memory of this last line is Flooding the lowland valleys like the nile not daylong does anyone know which is correct?
The Central Valley is at least a daylong drive, and has been known to flood from the San Joaquin and Sacramento Rivers in the winter, much like the Nile. So, Shapiro's phrasing is geographically accurate.
It is 'Flooding the daylong valleys like the Nile' -- I believe it is also a biblical allusion but do not quote me.
Delivering Poems Around The World
Poems are the property of their respective owners. All information has been reproduced here for educational and informational purposes to benefit site visitors, and is provided at no charge...
7/29/2025 6:45:55 AM # 1.0.0
Thank you for honoring one of the most skilled and underrated poets of any generation.