Seasons

Four independent pieces of prose written about the four different seasons!

Seasons


Spring

I wake up and embrace the morning taking in the sounds of a sweet spring day
I hear the calls of the blue birds and can pick up the sounds of children on their way to school
The streets are awash with people travelling by bus, train and railroad ready for a busy day at work
Time to prepare the food for the day that awaits..sitting in the park with a picnic blanket and paper plates
Drinking cold sweet liquid from plastic cups and waving away the wasps as they swarm around us
But what should we pack?
We begin by making up the sandwiches...the most vital part of an outdoor lunch
layering the bread with egg mayonnaise...like spreading icing on a cake
Next has to be the nectar...the food of the gods...Victoria sponge wedges and crisp biscuits
Crisps are a must so they are packed into the bag and they must be salt and vinegar or don't bother
Finally the drinks must be kept cool while we travel...fresh lemonade for the children with pims for the adults
Off to the park with the children in tow singing along to the radio...when we reach green pastures spread across open landscape
As we unload the car and walk to the perfect spot...we say thanks to nature and a fresh afternoon begins


Summer

I sit under a warm summer sun...And slowly work my heels into the fine grains of sand
I manoeuvre my feet so that every grain gets trapped between my toes and it feels relaxing
I am surrounded by children having fun...building sand castles and crabbing from the end of the pier
Others are running along the waters edge with kites flapping in the occasional breeze
The smell of hot fish and chips and sweet sickly doughnuts permeate the salty sea air
People trying to eat ice creams in the sun...drips falling upon the hard ground...splashing like rain
The tide causes the waves to edge closer and people begin wrapping themselves in cotton towels
As the waves approach the shore they take with them the stones and pebbles that litter the beach
And as they are dragged under the deep blue water they clatter together as they are pulled under with the tide
The following day the water has washed away the footprints...and any evidence of the fun we had has gone...until tomorrow when new marks are made!


Autumn

The leaves of the old sycamore tree are burning shades of red, yellow and brown
As the wind catches them they slowly and gracefully tumble to the pavement
As they fall they twist and turn as if performing for an absent crowd
A performance that is beautiful and yet a natural part of nature itself
The branches of the tree begin to parch and snap as if brittle as bone
As each branch falls it gathers momentum and joins the leaves in a pool of mulch
They sit and wait for the last green cascade...but none comes
As they lay on wet ground they absorb the tears of another seasons fate
Bit by bit the tree loses its leaves...like a snake shedding its skin
And as it sways in the cool breeze it creaks and whistles as if pleading for help
When finally it appears to weep for the final time as it stands bare amidst the wildlife




Winter

The chair in which I'm sitting creaks and moves as i place my weight upon the cushion
Its springs contract then release...i have put on weight this year!
I fix my attention to any sounds around me and can hear the tap as an overfilled mug of coco hits the cabinet
Silent is the night that i sit here in slumber...laid back in an old leather arm chair
As I move myself into a comfortable position i pick up the crackling of an open fire
Outside children play, dogs run amok, birds migrate...
The light from an old gas lamp illuminates this evanescent night
I reach for my favourite novel...expertly bound...pages lift at the edges...read too many times
The spine creaks as it opens and i run my fingers other the yellowing paper
as i begin to read my eyes slowly close
my grip loosening on the publication in my hands as my mind drifts into sleep
I wake with my eyes adjusting to the light, the book placed raggedly upon my lap

Reviews

[Olivia Clune]

you created very nice imagery in each of the 4 parts...very clear and well done!
Please check out my work!

[Matt]

Thank you very much for this I'm glad you enjoyed it!