Tuesday, September 05, 2006

Signs of Fall
By Don Iannone

Today a rust-colored leaf fell quite helplessly
from the large maple tree in the front yard.
There was no wind.
It was just its time to let go.
I listened as a stateman-like bluejay squawked nonstop,
forewarning us of swirling red-tail hawks,
who eyed the plump young morning doves, sitting in pairs
in the red cherry trees in the back woods.
The bluejay's shriek poked the air,
like sharp needles chisling colorful upper arm tattoos.
We found two writhing baby garter snakes
in the garage earlier in the week.
Both wore bright yellow necklaces--
the sort a mother gives her daughters
to wear at their debutante ball.
The flowers are enroute to seeds,
and their nectar runs sweet,
enticing full-bloom monarch butterflies
to cling much longer to their sticky honey.
Another Labor Day has passed,
and the kids stand in bunches along the road,
awaiting the golden rod-colored school buses
that carry them off to noisy classrooms,
filled with rosy-cheeked, wide-eyed youngsters,
who swap larger than life stories
about the summer that is gone,
like their innocence, once the teaching begins.
I long for a closer look at the fallen leaf,
but settle instead to let go of it,
along with my clinging to long sun-filled days.
My winter spirit is early this year, and my soul
is already warming itself by the blazing fireplace.

18 comments:

Mike said...

Very nice ode to the symbolic end of summer and beginning of autumn. Unlike you though, I'm still attached to the warm joys of summer, volleyball, beaches, jacket-less evenings, and late-day sun.

Margie said...

Beautiful poem Don!
But, I am clinging onto summer...
not quite ready for autumn... as after autumn comes winter... Brrrr!

dumbdodi said...

Nice, you seem to have had a great weekend. Great poem Don. Its like a dream, flowing.

Dan said...

Another great one! I see a Pulitzer on the horizon...

starry said...

Your poem was so vivid, I could picture the kids waiting in line for the school bus. Yes another Labor day is over and school has begun.Another lovely poem.

Don Iannone, D.Div., Ph.D. said...

Thanks Mike, Dumbdodi, Starry Nights, Dan, and Margie. The seasons make for some good poetry.

Dan...Pull-My-Leg_Itser maybe. You are so funny.

serenity said...

Don, so so lovely. You seem so contemplative in this poem, particularly at the end. I love the approach of fall, although where I am with the blazing heat right now it isn't fall-like in the slightest. I agree with Dan.....I see a Pulitzer. You are a joy!!!

Blessings!!!

Bob said...

It is amazing how much you have fitted into these few lines.

"The bluejays's shriek poked the air"......very memorable.

isaiah said...

Ah- Fall! My most favorite. Beautiful lines...colorful & vivid.

Thank you!

Don Iannone, D.Div., Ph.D. said...

Thanks Isaiah. Appreciate the kind words.

Kathleen said...

Beautiful Don... I am so there by that fire place...!

and I especially like:

"Today a rust-colored leaf fell quite helplessly
from the large maple tree in the front yard.
There was no wind.
It was just its time to let go."
YES....

Don Iannone, D.Div., Ph.D. said...

Thanks Kathleen...the fire does sound good to me too. Not sure why I look foward to fall and winter this year...maybe because I am working in Tucson a lot where there is great sun.

QUASAR9 said...

Hi Don,
we seamlessly flow from winter to spring, to summer, to fall, ...
we seamlessly flow from twenty, to two score, and then more, ...
it is 'we' that flow past space, time, matter, and all, ...
to see the yesterdays gone, the yesteryears gone, the new day born

Keep flowing free, keep shining bright by the fireplace warm glowing

Don Iannone, D.Div., Ph.D. said...

Thanks Quasar...in the flow here. Hope with you too. Blessings.

rama said...

Truly Beautiful. Thanks. Best, rama

Don Iannone, D.Div., Ph.D. said...

Thanks Serenity and Rob for your kind comments. Pulizter? That Dan!

Thanks Rama. Glad you enjoyed it.

Anonymous said...

Lovely- I feel nostalgia and wishes for lazy days.
I especially liked such images that link fall to your thoughts: "golden rod-colored school buses"- "bright yellow necklaces...debutante ball"
"cling much longer than their sticky honey."

Don Iannone, D.Div., Ph.D. said...

Silvermoon...thank you. Much appreciated.

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