Sunday, October 14, 2012

Overtones

The crinkle of leaves underfoot
and smell of decay in the air
are signs of transition that put
the sage in a mode to prepare

though nothing alive can escape
the coldness that follows the fall
we try with abandon to scrape
together the means to forestall

that moment of chilling exchange
when latent initiative grieves
the end, but that's not strange
just listen to the brittle leaves.

11 comments:

Eileen T O'Neill ..... said...

Bob,

Autumn is such a colourful season, but it does herald the expected arrival of winter and with it all those chills and colds. The shifting of snow and those thoughts just make me want to hold on to autumn for as long as possible!!!!

Sunday Greetings,
Eileen :)

Unknown said...

I love this, Bob! Makes me yearn for a locale that has a more dramatic Autumn than we have here in the Sonora Desert!

Mary said...

Very impressive, Bob. I like the idea of listening to the brittle leaves. They do have their 'crunch,' don't they!

Sarav said...

Bob, Excellent! What a perfect transition and then the ending of brittle leaves--loved it!

Wolfsrosebud said...

do like the hope you leave us with in the last line... enjoyed your poem

Jennifer Wagner said...

Love "The crinkle of leaves underfoot and smell of decay in the air"...put me right there. Nicely done!

Anonymous said...

Once again, you've awesomely rhymed without sacrificing meaning. It may seem odd, but, I thoroughly enjoy "forestall" as an end rhyme, well done.

Laura Maria said...

I love the way this reads. The form and rhyme are excellent!

Scarlet said...

This is quite a painting of the brittle autumn leaves ~ I dread winter, so every moment of autumn is fine with me ~

rch said...

Thanks everyone, time to rake :-D

Panchali said...

Beautiful lines...I love Autumn, as the nature changes and it looks beautiful with all the different colors! I have never seen autumn in India, have felt them through poems and English movies!Loved it!