One wading a Fall meadow finds on all sides 
The Queen Anne's Lace lying like lilies
On water; it glides
So from the walker, it turns 
Dry grass to a lake, as the slightest shade of
     you
Valleys my mind in fabulous blue Lucernes.

The beautiful changes as a forest is changed 
By a chameleon's tuning his skin to it;
As a mantis, arranged
On a green leaf, grows
Into it, makes the leaf leafier, and proves
Any greenness is deeper than anyone knows.

Your hands hold roses always in a way that 
     says
They are not only yours; the beautiful changes
In such kind ways,
Wishing ever to sunder
Things and things' selves for a second finding,
     to lose
For a moment all that it touches back to 
     wonder.

Added: on June 5th, 2005 at 8:14 AM | Viewed: 5222 times | Comments (4)

Poet: Richard Wilbur
Poem: The Beautiful Changes
Volume: The Beautiful Changes
Year: Published/Written in 1947

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