»
Archives
»
Open Poetry #33
»
Only Growing Things That Bloom In Autumn (a rather long ramble)
| Open Poetry #33 |
|
Only Growing Things That Bloom In Autumn (a rather long ramble) |
|
Mysteria 
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada 
|
 Only Growing Things That Bloom In Autumn I love it best when autumn sneaks in fooling me with warmth of day, Then blows its cool wisps of breath on my neck at night, When I would have only sensed it only half-aware As a faint draft under a window or doorsill. The season of long shadows and longing is here. Tuned to some subtle changes occurring in the air, The cat gobbles as if prolonged hibernation was now close at hand. Perhaps she smells the decay in leaves weeks before I do. My September is being stolen. These incremental losses of daylight go on not fully noticed. At the rate of 2 minutes per day they subtly steal day to dim. I become so distracted in a blaze of colored leaves, Pirouetting in shades of scarlet, plum, and ochre, Still realizing that this air smells almost musty and damp in its indifference. With certainty autumn has arrived, irrevocably. These afternoon serves as mere sleepy draught of palest light. In the yard, bunches of hardy grapes with tentacles clenched, Cling to vines, so stubborn about their necessary process. I long ago gave up picking them, as I see yet another drop, Now atop a rotting pyramids in grass to be gnawed at, or pecked at, Those left soon filled with a gray mold, composting their richness below them. The last few wasps of the stinging season finally grew tired of them. They prefer the instant narcotic effects of the hummingbird sugar-nectar. I check the feeder, as they drop drunkenly to the ground, Such a fitting way to exit the summer, fully soused on its sweetness. I wonder if they wake up once they’ve fallen? Maybe they wait too long and the night chills them dead? Poor things but oh, death by sugar, how absolutely divine. Bombs falling, people dying and living in fear of such simple acts. I sit and read with hands blackened in yesterday's ink, Trying to think of all the goodness there has to be in the world, Whose bland ubiquity means I will never make the news, But still in this faith I hold onto my autumn thoughts. Surely this is just one unique autumn of discontent? Beyond my backyard filled with leaves, and rotting vegetation, Beyond the autumn of this Northern hemisphere, something else has arrived irrevocably. I decide that rather than shrink from the specters and horrors Of Halloween this year, we should all welcomed them. A brief spell of sanctioned ghoulishness might be More expedient than whitewashing our black thoughts. While we might not take to dancing around bonfires as ancient Celts, This year we might actually get to feel like them, Susceptible to the volatility of the world, its precariousness, Ever so thankful but wary. Except, just like our pagan ancestors, It’s not the spirit world that has us on edge It is the threat from our own fellow man. These thoughts seem to come as go in my brain As I tend and tidy this autumn cloak surrounding my shoulders. I shamefully neglected my tomatoes this year, As world news and my grief seemed more pressing Than coddling those hundreds of little red globes. Now they mock me with their unkempt look, and shriveled, sinuous stems. I again cut the pumpkin cut too short before it could even grow fruit. That prolific vine, continues trying to cross the borders Between vegetable plots and the herb plots in search for sunlight, Space and freedom, not unlike man. At least I can be proud of my lemon balm, popping tendrils through parched soil. No wonder they say it wards away that winter melancholy. I smile at how it marshals on like the human spirit. The flower garden slowing is becoming but a stem garden now, Somehow my perennials know how to take their cue. The hardy rose bushes abound refuse to believe in the demise of summer. Doggedly they produce more velvet pink and crimson blooms. So like all of those peaceniks that don’t lose faith when missiles start flying, Instead proudly they stand tall and march under a banner of goodness. Are they deluded about change? Perhaps we need to think very strongly about Only growing things that bloom in autumn? ~*~ The picture taken by my son All you need to do is simply ask to get the answer. Assumptions can hurt, but the truth won't. ~* Just a simple little thought from me *~ |
||
| © Copyright 2004 Mysteria 1997 - All Rights Reserved | |||
|
ice Member Elite
since 2003-05-17
Posts 3404Pennsylvania |
"I become so distracted in a blaze of colored leaves, Pirouetting in shades of scarlet, plum, and ochre,"....love it, love how those words roll off my tongue.....  and here..... "I wonder if they wake up once they’ve fallen? Maybe they wait too long and the night chills them dead? Poor things but oh, death by sugar, how absolutely divine." another smiley..... Dang! I could quote the whole thing....great job, enjoyed the read... ----------ice ><> Come read to me some poem, |
||
|
Seymour Tabin Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720Tamarac Fla |
Sharon. A beautiful picture and wonderful meanderings. I enjoyed the read very much. You are an astute writer.  |
||
|
Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Sharon So thought filled and beautiful!!  |
||
|
Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612Hurricane Alley |
Blame it on life happening...or on the heat wave....but give yourself credit for a wonderfully rich and vivid poem. One of your BEST!  |
||
|
Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Such a fitting way to exit the summer, fully soused on its sweetness. ~*~ Free verse is NEVER too long a ramble for me...I enjoyed every blooming, lovely, vine, er, line! |
||
|
Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
Thank you for taking that long a time to put up with my meandering as Sy called it This started out as a story, and got a haircut to a very wordy poem LOL, so thank you. The grapes are awesome this year, so sweet, and yes, we do pick them in reality. |
||
|
Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
"Bombs falling, people dying and living in fear of such simple acts. I sit and read with hands blackened in yesterday's ink, Trying to think of all the goodness there has to be in the world, Whose bland ubiquity means I will never make the news, But still in this faith I hold onto my autumn thoughts." "Surely this is just one unique autumn of discontent? " "Except, just like our pagan ancestors, It’s not the spirit world that has us on edge It is the threat from our own fellow man." "At least I can be proud of my lemon balm, popping tendrils through parched soil. No wonder they say it wards away that winter melancholy. I smile at how it marshals on like the human spirit." Like Ice, I could have quoted more, but these lines above really hit me. You know, I've got a lot of favorite poems you've done Sharon, but I think this just jumped in front and centre. You've taken the imagery and descriptiveness of autumn and wrapped it around emotions that touch not just simple, passing thoughts, but global concern. Truly, beautifully written. What a treat to read. The visuals in this were excellent. Loved it. Best wishes and hugs, /Kit |
||
|
Earth Angel Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215Realms of Light |
"A brief spell of sanctioned ghoulishness might be More expedient than whitewashing our black thoughts." ~ One of so many passages in your poem that really grabbed me. Ramble away, Sharon! I would have liked for this to have gone on forever. Your garden is a thing of beauty ~ as are you. Forgive yourself if may may have somewhat neglected your own garden, for you were busy tending that of the world's! An exquisitely vivid and moving reading experience. You truly do have the soul of a poet ~ and the talent to match it! Love & Light, Linda |
||
|
Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
You are both too kind really. I have started writing "stuff" and saving it. Not poems really just thoughts and it is kind of like talking to yourself in acceptable way This was a sample of those writings, and thanks again for taking the time to sit outside with me. Today it rains, so we do inside things or cover up and enjoy it. I plan on as Nan says, "Spuddlin." Have a nice weekend. |
||
|
inkedgoddess Member Rara Avis
since 2002-11-19
Posts 7392Ohio |
mades me feel like an autumn leaf whirling around in the scenery ; very descriptive and bright |
||
|
Enchantress Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113Canada eh. |
When all the superlatives have been used.. may I just say.. thank you this is wonderful Sharon! Hugs dear lady~ ~Autumn..the year's last, loveliest smile.~ |
||
|
serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
I love this. It's the way you talk and the reason everyone falls in love you. You drift like snowflakes and land as gently on the tongue. smile. Keep writing this way Sharon--your voice suits you so deliciously well! |
||
|
Larry C
since 2001-09-10
Posts 10286United States |
Sharon, You picked a fine place to ramble. And the pic is beautiful!  If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane, I'd walk right up to heaven and bring you home again. |
||
|
Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
Thank you all for sitting a spell. Amazing how beautiful all things can look on their vine, and what they become if man gets at them isn't it? All those were reduced down to this, that will be today's project - jam!  |
||
|
|
⇧ top of page ⇧ |
|
| All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format. | ||
