While reading Virgil’s Georgics

Keep high windows in the East Barn wide

all the fragrant stone and warmth inside,

the shingles song when cedar shakes,

Piney sings, and she hesitates.

To lend an ear or lend a lip

or glow in the maple shades and drips

honey to your tongue so thick

with hymns, and prayers, and candle wicks.

By night in carol or in winks

oil lamped a spotted lynx

bows to the evening star then sinks

‘neath her woody sky all rosed in pinks.

Then mousy as the light-foot air

morning brings her breads and pears

blueing all and what she bares

in yellow meads and lavenders.

Nick Sirianno MA ‘19 first came to Bread Loaf to attend the Orion Environmental Writers’ Conference, where he studied poetry under Maurice Manning.