A Sunday Afternoon Poem

Dionis Coffin Riggs is often referred to as the Grande Madame of Martha's Vineyard. Riggs was a poet, author, newspaper columnist and civic leader who was born on Martha's Vineyard and who died here at the age of 98. Many on the Island were, and continue to be, influenced and inspired by her writings and teachings.

Circa 1989, here is a video of Dionis Coffin Riggs, reading some of her poetry relating to her grandfather's sea voyage in the Pacific Ocean.

And below, a poem written by Ms. Riggs in the 1960s that we thought perfect for a winter Sunday afternoon.

TISBURY GREAT POND

They must have known
We had no gun
They could have seen us
Crawling through the brush,
Crushing young buds
Of the bayberry
With our knees,
Pushing aside the dead
Wood-grass with our gloved hands,
To se the black ducks
Blue-bills, red-heads,
Widgeon, geese, in hundreds,
Swimming and feeding,
Unconcerned, beyond
The western bluff,
In Tisbury Great Pond

    ~Dionis Coffin Riggs

The Sunday Afternoon Poems are supplied to MVPatch by the Martha's Vineyard Poetry Society - which embraces the largest community of year-round and seasonal poets.