Pages

Monday 3 September 2018

Poetry Monday: Fall

It's Poetry Monday, and this week's theme is "Fall."

Feel free to join Diane, Delores and me in writing a poem, or just read along. You may post your poem in the comments on any of our blogs, or, if you post on your own blog, please leave a note in the comments so we can find you. Use the theme, or write about something entirely different. Just have fun!

*****

Because July and August were so hot and humid, I stayed inside as much as possible. I don't do heat well.

But as a result I feel like I've been cooped up for a long, loooooong time, and that I've missed out on the things I do enjoy about warmer weather, like gardening, walking unencumbered by winter clothing, and generally just enjoying the fresh air in the evenings, after the worst heat of the day is gone.

That didn't happen more than a handful of times this summer. Often it didn't cool off until well after dark. Or not at all. The few seeds I planted are stunted while the weeds have grown just wonderfully, and have taken over everywhere. Not getting out to walk means my hips and back have stiffened up and my scale has not moved in a downward direction for a very long time. (It may have moved the other direction. And by may, I mean has.)

Normally I look forward to fall, but I don't want it to be too cool just yet.

Bloody* heck, I'm hard to please, I know! I just want my temperate weather back, please and thanks.

This is what happens when the climate change chickens come home to roost.

And that's sobering.

So let's not think about it for just a few minutes, and have a poem instead.

(* Sorry if this word offends - it's not considered a swear word in Canada. I think it may be elsewhere, though.)

*****

Fall:  What I Like About You

Oh Fall, Oh Fall
You're pretty good, overall
You're not hot
Well, not a lot
You're not freezin'
Like another season
I could mention
(Winter, pay attention)
Even if you do
Use too much orange hue
You also use sky blue
So I forgive you
You make birds swirl in flocks
And let me wear socks
Your leaves are splendiferous
On which point we're vociferous
Your breezes clear my head
You kiss our apples with red
You ripen our pumpkins
And bring Halloween munchkins
Your huge harvest moon
Makes me ooh! ahh! and swoon
Dear Fall, there's just one thing:
Why can't you stay 'til Spring?







(Photo:  Procrastinating Donkey, 2016)


*****

Two notes of interest from today's poem:

"Our apples" refers to Nova Scotia's many apple orchards in the Annapolis Valley. This blog explains all about the different varieties grown here much better than I ever could, complete with gorgeous photos.

Pumpkins: Nova Scotia is home to a couple of interesting pumpkin-related competitions -- growing them and rowing them. See here for giant pumpkins and here for a short clip about an annual pumpkin regatta.

*****

What do you like about Fall? What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think about that word?


Hope you have a good week -- and may your boat, pumpkin or otherwise, always float :)


Update:  Next week's theme:  The Teddy Bear!





41 comments:

Elephant's Child said...

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that photo. Your poem sings to me too.
It is the arboreal fireworks I think of in autumn. And nights where it is cool enough to sleep. It is definitely one of my preferred seasons.

only slightly confused said...

This is terrific. Fall is my favourite time of year.

Red said...

I like fall. I do worry about the first killing frost , but after it's happened I'm fine. For a prairie boy, the grain harvest will never be forgotten.

Marie Smith said...

It’s been too hot and humid this summer for sure. I look forward to the more moderate temperatures beginning soon...I hope.

Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe said...

My sentiments exactly, both prose and poem.

Joan (Devon) said...

Hallo Jenny, lovely poem and I agree with your sentiment at the end. Why can't Autumn/Fall stay until Spring? It would be ideal.
I'm afraid I can't lay credit to my contribution this week as I copied it from a national newspaper over ten years ago. It was a 'Forgotten Verse'.

October's Party

October gave a party;
The leaves by hundreds came -
The Chestnuts, Oaks and Maples,
And leaves of every name.
The Sunshine spread a carpet,
And everything was grand,
Miss Weather led the dancing,
Professor Wind the band.

The Chestnuts came in yellow,
The Oaks in crimson dressed;
The lovely Misses Maple
In scarlet looked their best.
All balanced to their partners,
And gaily fluttered by;
The sight was like a rainbow,
New fallen from the sky.

Then, in the rustic hollow,
At hide-and-seek they played,
The party closed at Sundown,
And everybody stayed.
Professor Wind played louder;
They flew along the ground;
And then the party ended,
In jolly 'Hands Around'.

George Cooper
(1838-1927)

Have a good week Jenny.

jenny_o said...

"Arboreal fireworks" is such a wonderful way to describe the autumn leaves! And cooler nights are very welcome.

jenny_o said...

Fall has so much going for it!

jenny_o said...

The grain harvest - now that's a connection a Maritimer wouldn't think of too often, but a vital one for those on the prairies.

jenny_o said...

It will come, Marie, I'm sure of it :D

jenny_o said...

I think a lot of us are looking forward to all the perks of Fall, eh?

jenny_o said...

Oh, lovely, Joan - I haven't read this before. The Fall display of colours is a wonderful thing. Thanks for bringing us this poem.

Diane Stringam Tolley said...

Oh, my goodness, yes! Please stay till spring!

Diane Stringam Tolley said...

A new, beautiful poem for me as well. And one I'll keep! Thank you, Joan!

dinthebeast said...

Fall used to be sad to me because it meant summer was over and the rain was on the way. (It really rained a lot where I grew up.) Most of the trees in Eureka are evergreens and the fall fireworks are kind of understated there. And fall was when school started and stole all of my summer activities from me.
We don't really get much winter weather here, so fall and winter aren't that different.
If we had real heat to deal with in the summer, I would definitely be glad when fall arrived, but this close to the ocean the temperatures never really get uncomfortable (well, maybe once or twice a year) and winter now just means close the window when you sleep most nights.
There did used to be great motorcycle races in the fall, though, and I did enjoy those quite a bit.
And the smell of the the woods when walking through them in fall is its own special kind of heaven.

-Doug in Oakland

jenny_o said...

I think I could live with just Spring/Fall/Spring/Fall, Diane :)

jenny_o said...

It sounds like you might have close to perfect weather there, Doug - not much winter, not much heat in summer! The smell of the woods is so nice in any season, isn't it? Even in winter. The snow smells different in the trees.

I think most kids in school would agree with you about fall. Probably the teachers would too.

kylie said...

in this part of the world it's called autumn and it officially starts on March 1st but somem of the hottest weather comes after that date!
I love the cooling days of autumn. I love being able to sleep at night and think in the day. A looong autumn bypassing the extremes would be nice!

dinthebeast said...

Since it's poetry Monday and Labor Day, here's a poem for the laborers:

http://rudepundit.blogspot.com/2018/09/a-poem-for-laborers.html

-Doug in Oakland

Steve Reed said...

My favorite season! Although more pleasant in Florida, in general, than in England.

(And you used your own photo!)

Martha said...

Your summer has been like my summer --- mostly indoors! I feel like I was sentenced to being cooped up for...I don't know what crime. HAHA I also don't do heat well and I am looking forward to the fall season. Unless it's a chilly and damp one! Let's hope not. The weather is getting better now and we're slowly venturing out more. But many evenings it's still very humid out. This has been the hottest and most humid summer I've seen in a very long time, if ever!

jenny_o said...

I love that poem . . . reminds me of my father, who was a mechanic and for all of his working life struggled to keep his hands free from black grease. Thank you so much for that, Doug.

jenny_o said...

You've nailed it - being able to sleep at night and think in the day are the two things I am most happy about when the weather cools off! The thinking shouldn't be a thing, but it is.

jenny_o said...

Our fall starts out well but November is often miserable, probably similar to England's - cold, wet, and windy!

Yes, I don't have too many photos I feel are very good, but I prize that one.

jenny_o said...

It's just dragging on and on . . . but you and I both know it's just a matter of time before we'll be shivering :D Still, it would have been nice to actually enjoy that heat instead of hiding from it, wouldn't it?

Cherie said...

You call it Fall but it's Autumn to me
It's time for the leaves to fall from the tree
In shades and hues of russet and gold
Time for warm blankets to keep out the cold
While spiders are spinning spectacular shawls
For fairies and suchlike to wear to the balls


Jono said...

Staying until spring would be delightful, wouldn't it?

jenny_o said...

What great imagery - spiderwebs and knitted or crocheted shawls really do look a lot alike! Thank you for coming over and leaving your poem, Cherie :)

jenny_o said...

I could do without the whole snow and ice thing :)

Diane Henders said...

Mmmm, Annapolis Valley apples! That brings back happy memories from when I lived in Halifax.

I hated fall when I lived in Calgary - the colours last about three days, then there's a hard frost and everything's brown and ugly until it finally gets covered with mercifully white snow (which can be a couple of months later).

But I discovered last year that fall can be beautiful! Here, the leaves change and the colours last and last while the weather gradually gets cooler and crisper. I might actually have to change my opinion of fall now. :-)

baili said...

Ah....! what a beautiful portrait of fall dear Jenny !
sounds like hot weather though keeping you inside but opening the window of your creativity so amazingly!

reminded me fall of my native village which was absorbing and magical as valley was beyond just beautiful and provoking for imagination :)

jenny_o said...

I did not know that about Calgary's fall - so different from ours (and yours, now). The long drawn-out version is preferable to me, too.

When did you live in Halifax? Cool! :)

jenny_o said...

There are such beautiful places on earth, aren't there?! Thank you for your encouragement, dear friend!

Susan Kane said...

Over here from Mumblings. I miss fall/autumn. Growing up in Illinois and now living in desert So. California, I never get to have autumn anymore.

May I come to visit you? Please?

Mr. Shife said...

I think I am one of the few people not looking forward to fall. I think fall is fine and it's super pretty but I like it being summer. But if it was summer all year long then I probably wouldn't appreciate it as much as I do. Take care, jenny_o. Enjoy your weekend.

jenny_o said...

Welcome, Susan! Thanks for reading.

I would miss autumn terribly if we didn't have it, too.

jenny_o said...

I know a few people who feel like you do, Mr. S - one of them is my brother. When he worked in an air-conditioned office, he used to sit in his parked car, with the windows still up, for awhile every day after work, just soaking in the heat! I couldn't do that :)

Diane Henders said...

From 1988 to 1989 - I loved it there! I've only been back once, passing through for a day; but I'd love to go back for a longer visit. It's a bit of a commute from here, though. ;-)

jenny_o said...

A wee bit! Especially when you have your own piece of coastal heaven to visit there :)

LL Cool Joe said...

When I first saw your photo I wondered why you'd posted an image of a pile of vomit in the road. :D

jenny_o said...

Oh THANK YOU for that mental image! lol