Living close to Melbourne, in the southern part of Australia, we experienced a somewhat wetter, cooler summer this year. We were left wanting more after such a protracted Covid lockdown. We were however grateful for the reduced risk of bushfires.
So now that we are inside autumn, the balmy weather has come as an unexpected joy. Across the Easter break, the weather was without a doubt- delightful. It was an absolute cracker! A spirit lifter.
I freely admit autumn is a season I find most appealing. Softer light, crisp morning air and balmy afternoons are easy to embrace. Autumn is all about change and change is what we make it. It can be exciting, invigorating, challenging and stressful, or a mix of many feelings.
The world around us is in constant change- clouds roll across the sky, night follows day, flower bloom and die, leaves change colour and fall. We constantly shift through the seasons. I am therefore looking closely at the world beyond my window and paying close attention. So, here is my modern day take on an ode to autumn...
Notes From Inside Autumn
We are sitting inside the edges of Autumn
The light less harsh
And the sun
Warm for the season
Delivers a block of mellow days
Autumn’s song is soft and slow
But its farewell in inevitable.
The last blush of harvest
The fade and fall of leaves
Amid the increasing crispness of the morning air.
This season of change
Cannot be stalled
We are witness to the leaving
The last blaze of colour
-we watch it go
With a sadness.
We reach for books
And sit under trees
Absorbing the sunshine
Grateful for Autumn’s gifts.
©Alan j Wright
The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome indescribably magnificent world in itself.'
Henry Miller'
It is Poetry Friday and this week our host is Tabatha Yeats. Tabatha is sharing some bilingual poetry. By visiting Tabatha's page you also get to share ideas from a host of poets from all round the world.
The subject is indeed a thing of loveliness Ruth. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI like the pace of this poem, it flows as I read it and the line breaks seemed just right. It always seems so strange that half the world is in autumn as we begin Spring. I'm glad you didn't have fires this year and I"m sure it was a relief to you, too.
ReplyDeleteThank you Janice for your observations. Seasonally we are in opposite states and in the middle there are those living with a wet and dry season. All quite remarkable. There were fires during the summer, but fortunately not on the scale of last summer.
DeleteBeautiful Alan. I love the idea of sitting inside the edges of Autumn like it is a warm blanket, or a slightly open book.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sally. The idea of sitting inside the edges of autumn was a notion I easily embraced.
DeleteOh, autumn. How wonderful to pause and take it in in all its beauty. Savoring it to prepare for what is to come. From its mellow light to crisp air, it brings its own comfort. Your ending made me smile as you "reach for the books."
ReplyDeleteThank you Cathy. It's good to pause and appreciate. The mellowness of autumn always evokes Keats' famous opening words -'Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness...'
DeleteThis is a lovely, lovely goodbye. I'm sorry that summer is gone and fall is slipping. I always feel a sadness in that. Your poem brings that up in me.
ReplyDeleteThank you Linda. Your observations remind me that with the inevitable change that comes with the seasons, we do feel a sense of loss in saying farewell.
DeleteI love "sitting inside the edges of autumn" — it conjures an image of perfect enclosure (and pairs perfectly
ReplyDeletewith the Henry Miller quote.) Autumn is my favorite time of year. (Although, the older I get, the more I appreciate the rebirth of spring and summer. :))
You and I share a love of Autumn Karen. I'm glad you enjoyed the analogy I employed in my poem.
DeleteYour poem is "absolute cracker", Alan. I, too, find Autumn magical and your close attention to the "block of mellow days" is a delight to read. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for your generous response Bridget. I appreciate your feedback for my poetic efforts. Magical Autumn indeed...
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