It's Four in the Afternoon...

Cherry

By Silver Spun Sand

Sat, 26 Sep 2015
  • 3553 reads
10 comments
 
the end of September.  The soft-shoe
shuffle of autumn rustles past me – 
ensconced in the yellow, half- light 
of the shed...as yellow as your hair,
and do you still wear that rose?
 
Bulbs, in sacking, clamour to be dug
with that earthy, musty odour of brown.
An errant shower tap-dances on the roof – 
leaves the sky the bluest of things crazy –
Cohen’s, ‘Famous Blue Raincoat’, 
on my mind. 
 
I’m writing you now, just to see
if you’re better.  Here, a sense of betrayal
fugs the air...even so a kind of rusty richness 
pervades...the last of the Red Hot Pokers –
summer’s final missives...
 
Virginia Creepers a blaze of bronze
against a wall of oak; delve deep
into a crumpled paper bag
of crusted corms, and pray to god
 
snowdrops will drift in, by and by,
like foam on a high spring tide;
haphazardly thrown – to make a home
of wherever they land.
 
Sodden vine leaves clog the rake –
smoke from the bonfire – barely blue...
hangs low – suits my mood;
 
Black Eyed Susans – denuded,
brown stems shudder in dread at the stir
of the wind – under its breath
murmurs an imminent threat of frost.
 
These are misty, Michaelmas days 
shrouded in the haze; only phantoms
remain of familiar shapes...
 
apples on gnarled and twisted elbows  
hang on to the bitter end...prey
to marauding hornets and wasps – tipsy ,
as I, with too many rations 
of lilac wine, and cider.
 
Resentment rears its ugly head, and yet
all things must end to begin again;
to everything there is a season...
in the manner of the grand scheme of things 
makes an oak, a rainbow...or passion.
 
‘To Everything There is a Season’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHvf20Y6eoM
 
Certificate PG
Poem
Silver Spun Sand Poems
Love
Inspiration Point (work that responds to our weekly writing cue)

Comments

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Some lovely musings on autumnal scenes, with your song titles mixed in. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Many thanks, Rhiannon.  I so enjoyed writing this, and it is heartening to know you  enjoyed it, too.

Tina

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

What an amazing poem Tina, yet another one of my favourites of yours. I just love Leonard Cohen and that track is breath taking to hear. Also To everything there is a season; yet another of my favourites. Love the Byrds.

So many special lines too, I can't pick out a favourite...just love them all.

Thank you for sharing.

Jenny. smiley

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Glad you think so, Jenny.  The Byrds were simply awesome.  Nostalgia...indeedsmiley

Tina

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Beautiful, especially lovely with Leonard Cohen playing in the background.

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Many thanks.  Much appreciated.

Tina

 

Submitted by Bee on

Cleverly woven piece, brimming with the sights and scents of the turning season, and a message. 'Resentment rears its ugly head, and yet all things must end to begin again, to everything there is a season...' 

Bee

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Ta, Bee.  Ever so.

Tina

 

Submitted by Starfish Girl on

Lovely poem expressing so much about the season. Love Leonard Cohen's use of words and imagery, much like your own.

Lindy

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Lindy, good morningsmiley  And you have made mine with your words.  So very many thanks, and I'm really pleased you shared this wonderful song with me, and took the trouble to read my poem.

Tina