the summer birds are keening
the autumn birds are preening
for there’s a whisper in the air
and nature knows its meaning
the leaves are turning red and brown
the flowers going far to ground
for the cold is creeping from the north
its wake bereft of lively sound
the squirrels are dashing over the loam
the mice are digging deep and low
for the killing frost is not far off
and its touch will raze both food and home
the animals know the seasons well
for their ancestors both lived and fell
to the subtle knife that freezes life
the coming chill of winter’s spell
[Posted to dVerse Poets’ Open Link Night]
I see those squirrels from my window when I work from home… they always seem to be in a hurry, and of course, the hazel is right beside the window too.
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A lyrical poem that should be set to music, Clara!
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Winter is not my friend, never has been. Energy costs and dangerous driving top my list of grievances. I used to dream of strangling snowflakes. Wouldn’t it lovely to skip, to abolish Winter, move from Fall directly into Spring?
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There is a ominous tone to this, as if a crone were doing a reading with tea leaves. Imagining a cauldron bubbling over flames in the hearth nearby.
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A beautiful tribute to Fall! Love the last stanza!
Dwight
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I love autumn but not winter as its very long here in Canada. And yes the little creatures know our seasons well. Thanks for sharing.
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I felt the chill of winter’s arrival reading this ‘for the killing frost is not far off’ – an evocative, lyrical poem, thank you for sharing!
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Ah!! so beautifully the seasons are changing, summer melting into autumn.
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What great writing recalling those days when I lived in Britain never knowing just how cold the winters would be. The poem certainaly had that chill about it.
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I like the rhythm and flow of this. Preparing for the seasonal change to come.
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Enjoyed the rhythm and rhyme. My neighbours across the street feed the squirrels peanuts. Those same squirrels cross the road and bury them all over our yard and in my flower pots for future use.
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I am late getting around Clara. I have been distracted, battling with my conscience over my dark, leering, ongoing smirk regarding the news coming from the White House today. Wonderful autumn words here, chill but beautiful. Well written!
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What a lovely rhyme scheme, and the first stanza is especially beautiful and flowing!
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It does has a musical rhythm. Fine salute to the season. (K)
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