As Autumn Leaves

Cherry
Poem of the week

By Bee

Mon, 20 Jan 2014
  • 22621 reads
39 comments
 

Studying the veins of drying leaves -
the span of questioning hands,
I note with admiration, nature
painting vivid colour in order to make beautiful
the process of aging,

in hope of finding acceptance 
of eventual dying, crumbling,
and of being scattered on the ends of winds
to disappear beyond the corners of the world.

I find a rare example,
spectacular in swan-song glamour.
Gold, bleeding crimson to damson,
blending brightly pre-decay,
it begs to be remembered; to startle
the world into thinking it was something.

I lay it out with love
and smooth it between two pages of my diary.
Clean sheets, unsullied by comment
wait where there is nothing left to say or do
but slam the book shut.

Leaves preserving memories,
one day will be found and briefly questioned,
perhaps smiled at, then thoughtlessly replaced
upon a shelf to rot.

I thought I heard the sound of laughter gasp
from between the pages of my life,
but it was likely just the thought of farewell weeping
and of beauty being crushed.

Certificate PG
Poem
Other Non-fiction

Comments

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Some thoughtful and beautiful words here, Bee. I wasn't sure of all you had in mind in the last stanza, but it went through mine of beauty being preserved, and heightened by bruising!
Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Bee on

Hi Rhiannon.

I hadn't thought of it that way, but going back to it, I can see what you mean. I rather like that. Thank you for reading, and for your lovely comments.

Bee

Submitted by Richard L. Prov... on

This is very lovely Bee, a precious time of year, and well immersed in your soul.

Richard L. Provencher

Submitted by Bee on

Thank you, Richard.

Bee

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

HI there, Bee.  

I've still got some pressed freesia petals from flowers woven around a ribbon hanging from my bible on my wedding day...almost fifty years ago. Not only that but my daughter, some twenty years since, carried the same bible (petals still inside), on her big day, and incidentally, also wore my old wedding dress - still fresh as a daisysmiley

Loved your poem and thank you for bringing back many happy memories for me.

Tina

 

Submitted by Bee on

Those petals of yours tell such a story, Tina. And your daughter wearing your wedding dress is lovely. I saved my wedding dress (made by my mum) incase one of my girls wanted to wear it, but they both ended up taller than me so it didn't work out that way. But I think it is so nice when a daughter wants to wear your wedding dress. That's really special. 

Thank you for sharing you pressed flower story,

glad to have brought nice memories.

Bee

Submitted by Bee on

Thank you Editor, for reading and for the cherries. That's really encouraging.

Bee

Submitted by jeand on

Hi Bee,

Another beautiful poem, and I especially liked the last stanza.

Jean

Jean Day

Submitted by Bee on

Thanks Jean.

Bee

Submitted by RJF on

Beautiful and moving Bee, you are so clever. Rx

 

Submitted by Bee on

Thanks so much, R. That's really nice.

Bee

Submitted by VeraClark on

Oh, Bee, this is beautifully written. All those skeletons begging to be noticed. What a fresh perspective on the pretty pages of trees. Well done on Pick of the Week.

 

Submitted by Bee on

Thank you for such nice words, Vera. I can't believe it got pick of the week. 

Bee

Submitted by celticman on

beauty being crushed, amen.

 

Submitted by Bee on

Glad you liked that bit. Thanks celticman.

Bee

Submitted by jolono on

Wow Bee! Stunning. You had me with the first verse then blew me away( no pun intended, leaves etc) with that last few lines. One of your best, without doubt.

 

Submitted by Bee on

Thanks so much, jolono. I'm really pleased you liked it.

Bee

Submitted by Bee on

What a nice surprise - poem of the week. I'm really thrilled. Thank you.

Bee

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Bee,

being a nature lover,  I was so impressed by your description of the leaf you pressed in your diary,  with its memories that stay with you forever.

An Autumn poem to be proud of and well deserved as poem of the week...well done.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Bee on

Jenny, thank you very much, that's  so nice of you. 

Bee

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

Beautifully fluid and lovely to read, again and again. This is pure quality Bee!
 

 

Submitted by Bee on

Thank you, Jane. Glad you liked it.

Bee

Submitted by jeand on

Hi Bee,

Congratulations on getting picked as poem of the week. Well done.

 

Jean

Jean Day

Submitted by Bee on

Thanks, Jean, I was thrilled about it.

Bee

Submitted by kipper2 on

Very beautiful, everything worth saying has been said. My only reservation is the phrase 'slamming the book shut'. One hard line amongst such softness; I wondered if there was a message to be gleaned but if so I'm afraid it alluded me. That said, very beautiful.

Kipper2

 

 

Submitted by Bee on

Hi Kipper.

I'm glad you liked the rest of it, and I understand what you are saying about that line. Perhaps I should say - close the book. I just wanted that contrast - the shock after nurturing and appreciating all the beauty of life, it comes to an abrupt end and is soon forgotten about. I will think about what you said, and thank you, I really appreciate your thoughts on it.

Bee

Submitted by Parson Thru on

Lovely, this, Bee.  I was just saying to a friend the other day how attractive decay can be.  I love that final stanza.

Parson Thru

Submitted by Bee on

Thanks you so much, PT. thrilled you read it and liked.

Bee

Submitted by Denzella on

Bee,

You always write such lovely accessible poetry but this one is special. It conveyed to me all the colours of autumn, the smell and  the beauty of what for me is my favourite season..

'slammed shut' prepares us for the 'rot' of  the next stanza which in turn prepares us for 'beauty being crushed' and I think the reader should not forget the leaves are between the pages of a diary so may be there is an allusion to the diarist's life and eventual death.

Congratulations on a wonderful poem and for the accolades.

Moya

 

Submitted by Bee on

Hi Moya.

You explained totally what I was hoping for with the abrupt book shutting on life - and picked up on the importance of the diary. To me, all of that part was the main reason for writing it, so I'm really glad that came across. 

Thank you so much for taking the time and trouble to read so much of my stuff today. That's very kind, and appreciated by me.

Bee

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