BLINDED BY A LEAFY CROWN

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featuring Elektra – directed by Morna Edmundson

LYRICS

One by one, like leaves from a tree
All my faiths have forsaken me;

But the stars above my head
Burn in white and delicate red,

And beneath my feet the earth

Brings the sturdy grass to birth.
I who was content to be
But a silken-singing tree,
But a rustle of delight
In the wistful heart of night–
I have lost the leaves that knew

Touch of rain and weight of dew.

Blinded by a leafy crown
I looked neither up nor down–

But the little leaves that die
Have left me room to see the sky;

Now for the first time I know

Stars above and earth below.

Sara Teasdale 1884-1933

This is a poem that explores themes of loss and rebirth. The speaker begins by describing the loss of their “faiths” and “leaves,” a metaphor for the loss of joy and vitality. Despite this loss, the speaker finds solace in the beauty of the natural world, particularly the stars and the earth. The poem suggests that even in the face of darkness and loss, there is always hope and the possibility of new beginnings.

The poem is similar to Teasdale’s other works in its use of imagery and its focus on the natural world. However, this poem is unique in the way it explores the themes of loss and rebirth. The poem also reflects the time period in which it was written, as it captures the sense of uncertainty and change that was prevalent during the early 20th century.