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

[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.

[Pryde Foltz]

Autumn is indeed a beautiful season. A time to celebrate the beauty of a full season and then rest. Sorry to hear about your mother's passing. But she can still live on with your poetry.

I am curious. Your last name. Do you live in Japan?

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

thank you. yes, i'm japanese. there's a saying here: "autumn is for reading." so i'll be reading a lot these next few weeks, including works by you.

[Pryde Foltz]

What part of Japan do you live in?

[Dave W.]

You should see Oregon forest's in the autumn, they look afire with yellow, red, and gold leaves, so beautiful, Ern have a great day my dude.

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

that sounds majestic. i'd love to visit one day...

[Dave W.]

It is amazing, I love this time of year.