Shhhhh, listen, can you hear her.

The changing seasons

Her breath is but a chill whisper,
a whisper that stirs the leaves of trees ablaze with autumnal hues,
these lit by a fading sun that will climb barely half sky height
before tumbling over an ever darkening horizon
casting long, grasping, shadows.
Flowers drained by summers oppressive heat bow down their heads in deference laying petals before her,
a pastel coloured carpet to welcome her arrival
this littered with burnished, over ripe fruit
given up by a host to tired to any longer hold.
A lone squirrel busies itself, scurrying, collecting, hiding,
for it too knows of her coming,
will see her in then sleep her away
whilst birds on the wing, soar, fly with her,
but only briefly before leaving for warmer climes
returning only when she herself is taking her leave.
Me, I have heard her whisper,
felt her chill breath on bared skin
and am already mourning the season just passed,
wishing that the oft bemoaned summer heat be back.
In hope I pray she be meek, mild, not raise her voice,
and spring will not be welcomed in with blessed relief
from that which went before.

Reviews

[willweb]

Living in South Texas mild winters are kind of normal. Coming from the north east U.S., there are times I miss those harsh winters...but not very often.
This was beautiful and such a poetic request should be heeded by the chilly season.

[Gee]

Cheers willweb

[W. Barrett Munn]

The opening 4 lines scream out, a poet is in the house: read on!

Wonderfully crafted appeal to mild winters.
Winston
PS: l revised “Peonies”and believe it much stronger now.

[Gee]

Thank you WBM

[Lisasview]

Hi there, It has been awhile since I have read one of your poems.. Life just got in my way. Delighted to find a lovely poem of yours I had no read yet...
Great imagery and words that bounce right off the page and into my heart.
Really wonderful,
Lisa, Still in Spain..but just back from Galicia

[Gee]

Thank you Lisa.
Hope you are both well

[Lisasview]

Both well, waiting for the promised thunder shower..says in 5 minutes!!
I will believe it when I see it.
Lisa

[Davidgeo]

A beautiful voice is a beautiful voice. This is a strange place. I wouldn't have it any other way.

[Gee]

Hi Dave, cheers, hope you are well. Put this up for reading so folk didn't think I'd died:))
Glad you liked

[Davidgeo]

I love you man... I really do.

People like you keep this site alive. You're natural, lovely, hard to replicate,

in a good way, gee.

You should write more. You've been missed.

[Gee]

You're to kind, well, to me :))
Hope you are well

[Davidgeo]

I figured you'd be dead by now?

(i think i'm going through a midlife crisis. Or maybe, everyone is a brain in a jar>)

[Betty Hermelee]

In this piece, you bring the seasons to life, by calling them a "she/her" a human who changes course season by season...this year we'll welcome the autumn, as the summer's sizzle broke all records; Days will be shorter with more beautiful shadows....then the frost will bear down upon us, as tend to sleep more with longer nights. Birds will leave for warmer climes. Lovely images.
Best, B

[Gee]

Thank you Betty

[Betty Hermelee]

Your welcome Gee!
Have a good day over there!
Best, B

[Chris Shaw]

A pleasure to read this one again Gee. Hope you had a good holiday and you are recovering well. Haven't see you around much. Hope it is because you have been busy rather than struggling with illness. Have a good day.

Chris

[Gee]

Hi Christine, a belated than you.
Struggled with the after effects I the dreaded vid, in the mend now though.
Hope you are all well.

[Chris Shaw]

Pleased to hear you are on the mend after a struggle Gee. Take it easy.

Chris

[Eilis]

I love the reverence of this, Gee. Being where I am, I pretty well hate summer and look forward to autumn and winter. As soon as they begin passing away I start thinking about how many months until they are back again. So, I can relate to that voice at the end hoping for the best from the next season but sort of knowing what’s coming will be less than favorable.

Your imagery is lovely and you evoke a real sense of the beauty and miracle of nature. The ways everything anticipates what is next to come and starts preparing. An excellent seasonal poem. I really enjoyed this one.

[Gee]

Thank you Eilis, glad you found agreeable :))
Hope you and yours are safe and well

[emmajoy]

Have to admit to being someone who sees the special of every season.. though maybe days of the four seasons within twenty four days does get me itching to swear! Your ripe clear phrasing in this poem are second to recent none, Gee: poetic yes, real yes, visual.. absolutely.

What a masterpiece of an introduction:

Her breath is but a chill whisper,
a whisper that stirs the leaves of trees ablaze with autumnal hues,
these lit by a fading sun that will climb barely half sky height
before tumbling over an ever darkening horizon,
casting long, grasping, shadows.

Have read this three times, third time aloud.. (added) Just read the review below and mention of your words in a poetry slam... YES!

[Gee]

Left gobsmacked sometimes with the reviews I receive, it's as if I'm reading words about another's work. Strange eh.
That poets with your talent write such things is, well, it's hard to believe. It's as if folk are being kind so as not to upset by telling the truth.
Anyways, must have been one of my sensible days :))
Thank you so much, your reviews are so, so appreciated.
Hope all is well with you EmmaJ, you and yours.

[emmajoy]

Gee, whatever I leave is meant, true, more. There have been times with younger darlings when I've been as diplomatic, yes, but.. otherwise, what is felt is passed on. Your poetry is some of the best in the cafe, written from the heart.. or can be a laugh a minute, well needed. So there!

Wishing you and your darlings, smiles and safety.

[R.J Calzonetti (Siniste..]

This painted such a beautiful picture in my mind. Truly a marvel of a poem. Thank you for sharing, and I suggest sharing it as spoken word at a poetry slam as well, I feel it would truly be loved by everyone that heard it. A little bit of Valhalla touched my heart. Like a Valkyrie split the trunk of my soul.

[Gee]

Thank you RJC

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Expressive and full of such pertinent description. I could feel it on my skin. Not sure I would concur that spring will not be welcomed in with blessed relief. I am praying as each day passes lol!

[Gee]

Hi John, sorry for the extremely late thank you :)

[John Alexander McFadyen]

No problem from sunny Croatia!