WHISPERS’ OCTOBER ACTIVITY—VISIONS OF AUTUMN

Dear Whispers’ Friends,

The October activity has been: write a titled, five-line poem with an autumn theme. Thank you for your responses to the activity. I hope you will take time to dwell in the autumn season through these brief yet meaningful creations.

Blessings,

Michael Escoubas, Whispers’ Activity Editor

___________________

 Unbeknownst

A black cat, tail twitching, waits patiently,
keeping vigil over the fresh mound of dirt
peeking through the layer of golden leaves.
The drizzle of rain does not discourage her
sure efforts to capture her desired delicacy

Charlene McCutcheon, United States

Autumn Rain

Vertical, or horizontal autumn rain falling from heavy misty clouds,
but when caught by a sunbeam it makes glistening slides
shimmering across the rock and falls
in bright white tails or snakes
like silver where the mountains leak it.

Lynn White, North Wales

Evening Stroll

Tickled by a cool breeze

Encapsulated in earth tones

Wrapped in a cocoon of fallings leaves

Early nightfall

Illuminated by pumpkin lanterns

Langley Shazor, United States

  

Autumn Dawn

Parades of trees stand in black silhouettes
against a glowing sky of tangerine.
My garden spiders suspend satin sheets
of twinkling tiny crystals that tumble down,
pausing this new day of autumn sun rays.

Annie Jenkin, England

Autumn Trees and Little Boys

Just up and out of bed,

I am greeted by a tree.

In its arms, I bend my knees

as I listen to the fall

of brown and yellow leaves.

Michael Escoubas, United States

Sunday Psalm

is a rain-soaked deck in early fall, a collage

of light-changed leaves, and a crispy fall breeze;

one hundred geese that gaggle goodbye,

and one great blue heron standing silent in cattails.

What is there in nature that is not a prayer?

Mary Jo Balistreri, United States

Autumn Masterpiece

A stroke of genius

from the Master's palette,

a bouquet of butterflies

scatters and soars

with the autumn wind.

Barbara Tate, United States

Green Grow the Rivals O

The weed, resembling my climbing beans
in all but fruit, reduced my crop it seems.

loose change
on my table
sunflower petals

Ralph Stott, England

Autumn’s Eternal Fall to Spring

Autumn, that time of year when all is dying off                                                  

while rushing towards an end; beware such purblind thoughts,                  

for they are false! Within Fall’s gloomy themes are coiled,                                           

waiting to burst forth, snowdrops, anemones and croci.                                

In turn, Spring dooms itself, and all glory to it too, while going off!           

Alan McAlpine Douglas, England

Forever Autumn

he sings 

in coffee-coloured tones

labeling the pickle jars

reminds me of autumns past

his music still haunts me 

Martha Magenta, England

Autumn in the Smokies

A kaleidoscope of colors
splash across my Smokies.
I await the falling leaves
soon covered by
blinding white.

Tom Davis, United States

  

Autumnal Thoughts

Through the window

of my toasty room,

I crave the autumn sight of birds

in a place where time is kept

by the rising sun.

Marc Livanos, United States

  

The Turning

Color us autumn. 
Color us burnt almond,
red, flame. Name us
the season of falling,
drifting into winter’s wind.

Jean Colonomos, United States

Life of Leaves

Green
Red
Orange
Brown
Death

David Williams, England

Autumn, how I love you!

The Autumn breeze wafts over fields; to its mild touch the corn stalk yields.
The flowers in the gardens smile to feel the Autumn breeze awhile.
On grassy meadows, cattle graze; in stifling heat, they idly laze.
Flowers, splendid in all their glory. How they love to tell their story.

I love this Autumn time of year. It brings with it its glorious gear.

Helen Dowd, Canada

Autumn Wood

The trees are being diluted,

bird songs brushed away by wind.

Shadows are sticking to the floor

creating darkness, ignoring the sun.

Summer flames simmer until burnt out. 

Gareth Culshaw, Wales

curtain call~~

ash and maple

      confetti dance

~the last leaf falls~

she closes her eyes

      for the final bow

Karen O’Leary, United States

November Smoke

A new pile of leaves. Daddy leans on his rake.

My sister and I whoop and holler like Indians

then jump into leaves. A grey afternoon. Rain

comes soon, hot cocoa too and we could not

forever laugh as we once did into November smoke.

Barbara Robinette, United States

Grounded

Honking across the October sky,

a flock of geese heading south,

the blue lake a mirror of heartbreak.

Onshore, an injured goose grieves all alone,

no one to give her solace during winter's ice.

Elizabeth Howard, United States

Night in the Forest

Moonlight paints the woods awake.

Cricket song is a soundtrack for night life.

Silver-grey shadows dip and dither.

Leaves giggle in their autumn gowns

when windy guests ask them to dance. 

Candace Armstrong, United States

Autumn Chill

whispering through the autumn chill

in the eddy of yellowing leaves,

those old, old words haunt again --

I sigh at the unworn mangalsutra

and slide the drawer back in place.

Mangalsutra: a black bead necklace worn by Hindu women.

Raamesh Gowri Raghavan, India

Autumn Melody

We live in the safest, gated community.

We found great senior housing at Fort Knox.

Friendly people, young, old, military too.

Birds, Bambi and more on our morning walk,

sounds of nature and children all around.

Robert Hewett, Sr., United States