Forecast

By Josephine Miles 1911–1985 Josephine Miles

All our stones like as much sun as possible.

Along their joints run both solar access and decline

In equal splendor, like a mica chipping

At every beat, being sun responsible.

How much sun then do you think is due them?

Or should say, how much sun do you think they are apt to have?

It has misted at their roots for some days now,

The gray glamour addressing itself to them.

I should think possible that it go on misting likewise

A good way into next year, or time as they have it,

A regular cool season every day for our stones.

Not a streak that low of any sun or longed surprise.

Josephine Miles, “Forecast” from Collected Poems. Copyright � 1983 by Josephine Miles. Reprinted with the permission of the University of Illinois Press.

Source: Collected Poems 1930-83 (1983)

Biography

Lifelong California resident Josephine Miles distinguished herself as an educator, spending her entire academic career at the University of California, Berkeley, where she was the first woman to be tenured in the English department. She is remembered as the editor of anthologies and critical texts, as an author of books on poetic style and language, and as an award-winning poet who produced over a dozen books of poems. Her . . .

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