Yin And Yang Of Autumn Forest

Cherry

By skinner_jennifer

Tue, 07 Sep 2021
  • 1914 reads
15 comments
 

Night puts natures colours to bed, only

moon and stars share their splendour,

chill winds commune with October's

coming ambiance ushering Autumn

leaves astray.

 

When drowsy insects devoid of care,

sleep silently in limbo unaware, no

warbled desires in branches of trees,

just maybe warden owl gives warning

notice to danger with eerie: 'Woo! Woo!'

Of lurking unease.

 

Deer young and old forage murkiness

and gloom, if sudden menace surrounds

they stand perfectly still, ears pricked up

with sharp hearing they wait, eyes that see

all in curious moment of state,

 

shaking off their displeasure of possible

peril as twigs snap in menacing manner,

leaping away nymph like for they are shy;

into raven darkness fly.

 

***

 

Earth furrows in sudden blustery storm

that pounds forest with clashing battle

sound, dire lightening rages up in sky,

capturing dismal clouds squeezed to

a pulp, devouring the air of every last

drop,

 

with combination of savage fork;

thunder rolls – lightening strikes

like a knife in face of tall trunk.

Tears mingle with rain, while

atmosphere of wrath sweeping

forest floor, having touched

leaves with glistening sheen.

 

Do trees think matters through

informing roots that storm's

passed from view? Distress has

abated now enriching land, all

but one tree did fury encounter

withstand.

 

In forest serene things aren't always

what they seem, challenge of weather

can be so extreme, but still the beauty

is all around and at dawn Autumn

colours once more abound.

 

 

Certificate U
Poem
Poems
Spiritual
Nature
Inspiration Point (work that responds to our weekly writing cue)

Comments

Submitted by hilary west on

Hi Jenny,

You capture the turbulence of nature in this autumnal poem and the dissolution of colour that night brings, only to reappear in another day!

hilary     smiley

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Enjoyed the oscillation of the quiet beauty and the tempestuous night, and the nymph-likeness of the deer's leaping away.

I was amused by dismal clouds squeezed to a pulp

Rhiannon

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Hilary,

glad you liked this poem. It was a pleasure to write.

Thank you for reading and your welcome comment.

Jenny. smiley

 

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Rhiannon,

I'm glad you mentioned about the clouds being squeezed to a pulp, I suppose I've combined this weeks I P with last weeks.

Many thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts.

Jenny. smiley

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Editors,

glad you enjoyed reading and

the cherries were such a welcome surprise. 

Thank you so much.

Jenny. smiley

 

Submitted by jeand on

Hi Jenny

You do such a good job of putting the smells and sounds of the land in as well as the visual. Very well done.

Jean Day

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Jean,

It's good to know I managed to fit in all the senses for you, and thank you so much for reading and letting me know your thoughts. 

Jenny.

 

Submitted by marandina on

I do love Autumn. I like change of pace in this poem. Highly visual with your customary wonderful turn of phrase. A pleasure to read :)

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Thank you for reading Paul. Autumn is definitely my favourite time of year, when you can take in the colours of trees. Like you said it's that season where everything is preparing for the restful coming winter. 

I tried to tell a story about how quickly the weather can change, yet we need the bad with the good to balance everything out, which is where the idea for yin and yang came into the poem.

Again always appreciate your comment and thank you again.

Jenny. smiley

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

I liked "clouds squeezed to a pulp" too, made me think of them being like fruit making juicy rain :0)

Also "lightening strikes like a knife" is wonderful, both for the quick jabbing sounds and the imagery

And the idea of leaves communicating with other parts of a tree. I wonder if when the first raindrops hit, the message goes down to thirsty roots, "won't be long now" or like you say, to let them know when the wind goes down so they can unclench, or stop stressing about lightning

You create a feeling of community among the trees, that the others would try to nurture the stricken one, know its distress

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Di, your comment is like poetry itself.

Your understanding of what I was trying to portray was spot on, especially in those last two lines. I feel sure the trees communicate. I remember the last time I was walking in the forest and a tree had been struck by lightening and had been ripped away from the main trunk, It was sad because the tree looked quite old, I suppose it had a long life, but it's always such a shame....but that's nature for you.

Thank you for your in depth observations of this poem, much appreciated.

Jenny. smiley

 

Submitted by Turlough on

This is a really good piece of poetry Jenny.

You have really captured the atmosphere of autumn in the way that I see it. People who are less fearful than I of the darkening at the year's end tell me that I should enjoy the colours and changes of the season. I try, but I'm much happier in spring and summer, so your words 'murkiness and gloom' really stood out for me.

I'm going to read this poem again on a day when we are really in the thick of autumn. I'm sure it will form an even more accurate description of nature then.

 

Turlough

Submitted by Hades502 on

Hey Jenny, I really liked how you split that into two sections. Some strong writing and great imagery. Congrats on the cherries.

GGHades502

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Hades502,

it always makes writing so worthwhile to recieve acknowledgement, and I'm glad the poem worked for you. I wanted to show how the forest can be such a beautiful place to be, yet very dangerous and scary too.

Thank you for stopping by and letting me know you read, it's very much appreciated.

Jenny. smiley

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Turlough,

I'm so sorry I've taken so long to thank you for your insightful comment. For some reason it never came up on my email. I'm glad you enjoyed reading and very much appreciate your thoughts.

Hope you are well and enjoying the late summer sun. smiley Take care.

Jenny.