Here’s a terrific poem to close out the fall season and welcome in the wind and snow, composed by CC Canada’s Poet Laureate, John Hoben. Born and raised in Musgrave Harbour, a small fishing community located on the North East Coast of Newfoundland, John is currently a PhD Candidate in Education at Memorial University in St. John’s. At Close of Autumn (for Li Po) is licensed under an Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives licence.

John comes to us with a long list of achievements and accolades, including a first-place finish in the 2005 Newfoundland and Labrador Arts and Letters Competition (Poetry, Senior Division). Check out his previously blogged poem Salmon Falls here. And believe me when I say he is just getting started!

At Close of Autumn (for Li Po)
By John Hoben

At close of autumn
winter comes with
furtive steps,

walking softly on
ancient feet;

Evening settles into
my ice ringed cup,

as, with pursed lips,
I close my eyes,

and with
soft held breath,

slowly drink.