The Most Reluctant Ones

September sinks

into the hard melancholy

of remembrance

     turning leaves

     swept off-stage

before the final act can commence.

The last quarter harsh

     defies

the obstinate few

to traipse the frigid moors

     alone.

To lark and

     curlew,

sing with without remorse

the song of a survivor's

     heart

unbowed, unbroken.

Since those borne beyond the autumn

     pale

are cursed to know what wind

     and ice

     entail,

marked through life,

the most reluctant ones.

Ken e Bujold

© 2022

Reviews

[W. Barrett Munn]

Another terrific opening stanza sets the tone successfully carried throughout. Very nice.

Winston

[jacob erin-cilberto]

the most reluctant ones are often the strongest...and will outlast the worst conditions...

cursed but maybe blessed at the same time.
j.

[Fabian G. Franklin]

Those brown leaves are hangers on, still clinging to the tree. They were supposed to fall but hadn't the bright color left for Autumnal gaiety. Maybe they'll just stick there waiting for some new Spring leaf to push them from their perch. Still, there's something to be said for persistence. I enjoyed the read.

[Ken e Bujold]

thanks for stopping by Fabian, glad you enjoyed the read. Plenty of leaves hanging on here as of this write. But winter is in the air

[Dave Brown]

In the actual sense of winter's expectations, it's not much to look foreword to, but with the who knows what of future weather patterns, it is even less so.

[Ken e Bujold]

yes. only first day of Oct and I already slipping into my winter funk.