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Simple Thoughts In An Autumn Garden
| Open Poetry #16 |
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Simple Thoughts In An Autumn Garden |
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Mysteria 
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada 
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 ~*~ Simple Thoughts In An Autumn Garden ~*~ ~* Mysteria *~ I love it best when autumn sneaks in, fooling me with warmth during the day, then blowing its cool breath on my neck at night, when I might only sense it half-aware as a faint draft under my doorsill. The season of long shadows and longing is here. Tuned to some subtle change in the air, my cat gobbles food as if prolonged hibernation was now so close at hand. Perhaps she smells the decay in leaves weeks before I do. My September was stolen in an incremental loss of daylight at the rate of 2 minutes per day, not fully noticed causing subtle dimming, distracting me with the blazing colors of leaves as they flare to red, purple and yellow. The air smells so damp with indifference. Then with certainty it arrives, autumn, irrevocably. Afternoon serves as mere sleepy draught of palest light. In the yard, a few bunches of hardy grapes with tenacles clenched cling to vines, stubborn about their necessary process. I long ago gave up picking them for jam, and now they sit like rotting pyramids in grass, insect-sized monuments, gnawed at, pecked at, their wounds filling with gray mould. The last few wasps of the stinging season have grown tired of them and prefer the instant narcotic effects of the hummingbird sugar-nectar. When I check the feeder, they drop drunkenly to the ground, a fitting way to exit the summer, so fully soused on sweetness. I wonder if they wake up once they’ve fallen or wait too long and the night chills them dead? Poor things but oh, death by sugar, how divine. Elsewhere in the world, bombs fall and people fear the simple act of opening an envelope, death by correspondence. My hands are forever blackened with yesterday's ink. I try to think of goodness, all the goodness whose bland ubiquity means it never makes it to the news and with faith I hold onto that. Surely this is the autumn of discontent, because beyond my backyard filled with leaves, beyond the autumn of this Northern hemisphere, something else has arrived irrevocably. Rather than shrink from the specters and horrors Of Halloween this year, we should welcome 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 like the ancient Celts, this year we might feel like them, Susceptible to the volatility of the world, its precariousness, thankful by wary. Except, unlike our pagan ancestors, it’s not the spirit world that has us on edge but threats from our own fellow man. These thoughts come and go in my brain and I survey the autumnization around me this year. I shamefully neglected my tomatoes after mid-September, when 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 are but shriveled, sinuous stems. Their makeshift greenhouse Is more like a plastic coffin than a thriving shelter. Oh well! The pumpkin cut too short before it could grow fruit, a prolific vine which tired to cross the border between the vegetable plot and the herb plot in its search for sunlight, the flood of plants. The flowers on it had looked promising. At least I can be proud of my lemon balm, which is still popping up tendrils through parched soil. No wonder they say it wards away winter melancholy. I smile at how it marshals on. The flower garden is but a stem garden now, Since my perennials know how to take a cue. But not the hardy rose champion. It refuses to believe in the demise of summer and keeps doggedly producing more velvet pink blooms. Like the peaceniks who don’t lose faith when the missiles start flying, but instead march under A banner of goodness. Are they deluded about change? Perhaps we need to start growing things that bloom in autumn? art: www.allwall.com music: Holly by Enya (thanks Todd) ~*~ Carpe' Diem ~*~ [This message has been edited by Mysteria (edited 10-27-2001).] |
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| © Copyright 2001 Mysteria 1997 - All Rights Reserved | |||
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
I already do! This, I believe is my favorite from you thus far, Sharon! Extraordinary train of thought that ties in with relevant symbolism. You have been working hard at this stuff, haven't ya?  Much applause m'friend...and Mums are great for autumn btw....grin... |
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Martha Cowan Member
since 2001-03-08
Posts 240Groves, Texas |
Gardens in life do wither and fade if we do not seek the desire within us to overcome the barriers that imprison us into an acceptance of the seasons of dismal verdicts, blindly falling into a prison of self inflicted visions of withering hopes. This may have been a "book" as you said...but it was overflowing with insight, truth, and much wisdom. A most excellent message, Sharon...and I say...plant roses in December...and, just perhaps...the buds of spring will overcome the odds and stand alone in a garden as a radiant symbol of new hope, and dreams that come true. Hugs and much love to you, ~*~dawnie~*~ |
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Enchantress Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113Canada eh. |
Oh Sharon, the thoughts you do ponder in your autumn garden! After all is said, and said so beautifully, I keep thinking of those drunken bees....Ha! And...do they freeze or sort of just slumber, sleeping it off, so to speak, until spring? Seriously, this is one of the best pieces I have seen from you. Enjoyed and I shall enjoy it again...as into my library it goes. ~warm hugs to you my friend, Nancy~ ~Time has cast a spell on you, |
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Startime Member Ascendant
since 2000-10-03
Posts 5918Canada |
After the light, carefree days of summer you sit amid your autumn garden and weave for us a spell of life all around the world. *sigh* you always leave me with incredible visions and this poem is like all others in that way. Thank you, so much, for being who you are and sharing your talent with us all. **hugs** Love I leave with you whether it is in your life now or yet the essense of your dreams. |
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RSWells Member Elite
since 2001-06-17
Posts 2533 |
A remarkable ramble of keen description. If we all tended to our gardens and inspected the life so closely (and dependently) at hand the greater good would be served. Very cool. |
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Trillium
since 2001-03-09
Posts 12098Idaho, USA |
This is a wonderful poem, covering many subjects beyond your "simple garden". Outstanding! Betty Lou Hebert |
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Mistletoe Angel
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816Portland, Oregon |
 (big hugggsssssss) Oh my gosh, we can indeed, for our love we all share together can plant the seeds of joys we could never possibly imagine! (smiles) God Bless You, sweet Sharon, your words and visions just always amaze me! (kiss on cheek) I love it!!! You have such a beautiful heart, sweet Sharon, thank you for sharing! May love and light always shine upon you! Love, Noah Eaton |
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Janet Marie Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554 |
My September was stolen in an incremental loss of daylight at the rate of 2 minutes per day, not fully noticed causing subtle dimming, distracting me with the blazing colors of leaves as they flare to red, purple and yellow. The air smells so damp with indifference. Then with certainly it arrives, autumn, irrevocably. Afternoon serves as mere sleepy draught of palest light. In the yard, a few bunches of hardy grapes with tenacles clenched cling to vines, stubborn about their necessary process. ====================================== May I ditto Sen and Richard...(who better?) this is deep girlie..deep!! excellent employ of extended metaphor and imagery... wonderful seasonal and timely piece of writing Sharon, and the song and pic were icing on the cake. well done poetess Mysteria  jm This distance has shown how the road remains alone |
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Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
Yanno, you guys are something else? What if I told you it was just about grapes and tomatoes, wasps, and Autumn, would you believe me? No! Hah! Thanks a lot for sitting in the backyard with me, and I do wish each of you could too. ~*~ Carpe' Diem ~*~ |
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Flutterwings Member
since 2001-07-10
Posts 288Maine |
Sharon, you took out your canvas and brush and did it again. From one poem to the other... I say to myself, says I, "she could not top this one." But, you did it again.... *sigh* Piccaso, Van Gogh, could not have done it better. Your talent swims like the fish in the sea... with a fluidity, words can not express. THanks  Maggie ((~.~)) |
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Elizabeth
Moderator
Member Ascendant
since 1999-06-07
Posts 6871Minnesota |
Simple thoughts? I don't believe so. Thought provoking and beautiful, Mysteria. God bless America, my home sweet home. |
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Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
Flutterwings ~ did anyone ever tell you that "you are a poem"? Thank you dear friend. Elizabeth ~ Thank you, for complexity does sometimes come from simple thoughts. ~*~ Carpe' Diem ~*~ |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
You are profound in your simplicity, and this epic of a poem is finding its own space in my library... I continue to marvel at your wisdom, and would you truly know the meaning behind this, then, if I say, I wish I had written this? |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
I meandered about my yard today and brought in my geraniums, some sage and rosemary, some peppermint, mimosa seedlings... and I'm hunkering down... Thanks for sharing your autumn musings with us, Sharon.. |
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Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
And this is the ultimate perennial that daily blossoms from your garden, mysteria: 'My hands are forever blackened with yesterday's ink. I try to think of goodness, all the goodness whose bland ubiquity means it never makes it to the news and with faith I hold onto that.' |
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janmew Member
since 2001-10-27
Posts 134Canada |
Simply beautiful, I feel like I am there with you. Poetry is an expression of feelings. I do not write poems, but rather, the poems use me to write themselves. |
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Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
Sunshine ~ You truly have made me cry - and only you would believe that. Thank you does not seem enough. Nan ~ Can you save geraniums? My goodness tell me how? I have tons - and thanks as well LOL Midnitesun ~ Isn't the truth though? We are all stained with the newspapers and that ink will forever be there for all of us. Thank you for always reading my work I do appreciate your time. janmew ~ WELCOME! So happy to meet you, and I am also glad you spent time in my garden, I shall visit your work soon, thank you. |
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SmittenKitten Senior Member
since 2001-06-20
Posts 1131where the sky and horizon meet |
Sharon~ My goodness poetess! You've outdone yourself! Your imagery is fabulous in this. It draws the reader in and then gets them to dig deep in themselves with the symbolism you've employed as well...thank you for this simple ~yet so profound~ look at your Autumn backyard. I would gladly sit and see it through your eyes any day. Hugs, ~Krista  Your beautiful words & creativity allow me to connect with the same in myself. |
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Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
Ah Krista ~ Anytime you wish to sit with me, there is room on the swing - thanks for your wonderful comment. |
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