The leaves are out

The leaves are out

 in full colours today

 oh, what splendour!

 oh... what beauty.

Autumn is the greatest 

 month.

A time for remembrance,

a time for grieving.

Grieving can be beautiful too,

 said my mother.

Then, she died.

In spring, as the flowers

 blossomed

my mother, brought in

 the groceries

 before retreating to bed

 for a rest,

 she shut her eyes,

 peaches in the sky.

Half a year hence

 a half year of grey,

 the burning sun,

 air-conditioning,

 hot, sleepless nights.

But autumn is the greatest 

 month.

A time for walks

 through yellow woods,

a time for shorebirds

 to take flight,

a time for beautiful men

 , like me, 

 to sit quietly and wonder.

 Autumn 

 is the greatest month.

 An autumn like this

 comes around

 only once. 

--7th november 2024.

Author's Note

still not a hundred per cent. getting there. i will try to respond and comment on everyone's work as much as i can.

Reviews

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I feel this...autumn is my favorite season and I lost my mother several years ago.
My favorite picture of her is one taken in Vermont on a beautiful fall day and she is standing in front of a maple tree, decked out in its orange and gold...and she in her Pendleton jacket.
j.

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

thanks for sharing J. i hope this year is a year to blossom

[Ken Simm.]

"At no other time does the earth let itself be inhaled in one smell, the ripe earth; in a smell that is in no way inferior to the smell of the sea, bitter where it borders on taste, and more honeysweet where you feel it touching the first sounds. Containing depth within itself, darkness, something of the grave almost.'"
Rainer Marie Rilke.

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

the words of Rilke always move me. thank you for sharing.

[Relic]

Autumn has always been my favorite season for the splendid colors it brings. I'm sorry to hear about your mother's passing. I can see the connection you've made between the joy of spring and your mother; and the grey skies without her.

You wrote this really well, Ern.

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

thanks Relic, this poem came to me at once but i noticed how the symbolism worked and was proud of my subconscious for coming up with that!

[Lorry]

Now that I think about it, I wonder if more people pass in Autumn or they are the most memorable for the scenes that autumn bring.
A lot of the funerals I have been to have been set I'm gold and red leaf, with a low sun shining through.
I like your last lines simple statement that this is the last time you'll get to see this particular Autumn, a bit like today is the only time today will be in the present and therefore unique.
Nicely captured.

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

thank you for sharing that. perhaps in your experience, autumn brings back memories of funerals. i've heard that as days get shorter, the lack of vitamin D lowers people's mood. not that that explains everything. for me, autumn is a time where i allow myself to feel sadness, which is an emotion i feel comfortable in. but everybody has their own views on this season!

[Hallow]

I love autumn also. It's my favorite season, but I can understand this. The month of October no longer brings me joy as it did. Loss comes in many forms, but they can all easily taint a beautiful season. Well said.

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

thanks Hallow. it is certainly a season with dynamism. but i will try to appreciate it for what it is. i hope you get the most out of the rest of november.

[emmajoygreen]

Autumn is my favourite season! So many people love its colours but see this time of year as the death of Spring and Summer. Each season helps another - they are family, each giving to another member, only the weather can come between them yet. Time has taught, loved and re.arranged.. Autumn comes and goes forever.. the most beautiful finish to time.. it remains a glorious memory, it never completely goes as your words tell so very well. .
'Autumn is the greatest
month.
A time for remembrance,
a time for grieving.
Grieving can be beautiful too,
said my mother.
Then, she died.'
Your words say so much; surely those Autumnal colours were both Dawn and Dusk.. mysticism - pure

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

thanks emma! absolutely loved this comment. it is and has always been my favourite season. but this year was markedly different. it certainly had an added spiritual dimension.

[emmajoygreen]

How true, could be that we had to wait.. and wait?

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

waiting for godot, my favourite play.

[Sophia Scriven]

I love the walk down memory lane (concept) and the breaks in between the gray 🩶. It reminds me it's okay to just take a step back and remember why or how this all started.

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

Thanks Sophia!

[John the Baptist]

Indeed, autumn is a great time for many reasons. But be advised it's a season, not a month.

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

yes, i don't know why i wrote month it just sounded right in my head haha

[Marie]

You have captured Autumn, all its colours and its beauty superbly in this wonderful poem. My deepest sympathy on the death of your dear Mother, Ern M. She will live on in your heart as well as in your poetry until you meet again, many years from now. Take very good care of you and keep well, dear poet. Wonderful inking! Thank you for sharing, Ern M...

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

thank you Marie. i appreciate everything you said, i will take your advice on board. hope you had a nice day!

[Marie]

Thank you Er M and I hope you enjoyed a very relaxed, pleasant and blessed day too...

[Lisasview]

I am so sorry for your loss. I too lost my mother several years ago and the loss is still with me and always will be.
As a painter I too love autumn...the colors are marvellous.
Lisa

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

thank you Lisa. my condolences for your loss too.
i wish i was a painter, but i do not have such talents and not for a lack of trying. i might post my sketches up some day. maybe you can give me pointers?
Ern.

[Lisasview]

I do teach art on line as I am from California and now living in Spain... So yes you can send me drawinfgs as i am told I am a good teacher...
Lisa

[Soren]

Ah Ern this is a magnificent piece. Taken at face value it speaks to nature but as a metaphor it tells us that the autum of life is a great time as well and is to be enjoyed. Thank you for sharing

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

you're spot on. autumn is, generally speaking, associated with grief, and that worked well for me here. however, i personally hve always enjoyed this season the most, which in this poem, could be read as finding optimism even during difficult periods in one's life. in that way, this is an accidentally magnificent work.