Like Autumn Leaves Scatter In The Breeze

By skinner_jennifer

Sun, 02 Feb 2025
  • 157 reads
15 comments
 

Dear diary...

 
Feed me Youth when long haired
boys in gentleness, wearing flares,
mused on music, girls and taking 
Canterbury trips, reading poetry 
under shady trees, days we just 
had to seize.
 
Transport me back to easy going
times, when not afraid to take
a leap of faith: lulled by folklore
of those imagined mysteries.
 
Now as time elapses, those 
moments are devoured, like
pack of hungry wolves with
eager intention: yet still I'm
haunted by past voices that
consume, distant whispers
carried on the breeze.
 
In dreams those familiar faces
flatter me in sequence of events,,
then like Autumn leaves scatter;
chain of thought broken at the
break of dawn.
 
Perhaps I shouldn't be too hasty,
rather satisfy memoirs, drinking
from well of long ago reflections,
is all that's needed to keep special
yearnings alive.
 
Image was free to use.
Certificate PG
Poem
Dear Diary
Spiritual
Journal
Autobiography

Comments

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

It is possible to look back with rose-tinted spectacles. And regret for lost mobility and activity. But we do have usefulness and enjoyment still to experience and faith to attend to! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Thanks for stopping by to read Rhiannon. Just dreaming again of old familiar faces is how this piece of writing came about. Looking back and remembering last Autumn, feeling I missed out on my favourite time of year. But the weather has been just how I like it since.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Love the idea of memories being like autumn leaves, and this made me think of carefree Summer days :
"easy going
times, when not afraid to take
a leap of faith: lulled by folklore"

Soon it will be Springtime, and I hope you will be going out again

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Glad you liked those words Di. I've had so many dreams lately of long ago friends, but as you know dreams appear and disperse, leaving me with just memories of carefree times, when the ony responsibility I had was going to work so I could travel and enjoy life.

Summer when I was young was so easy going. I knew quite a few local musicians back then, including a guitarist called Fred Wedlock, he was always so cheerful, and our little group loved Pink Floyd, especially for their lyrics and their love of Canterbury, which left quite an impression on us long haired girls and boys.

Sadly nowadays I avoid the sun at all cost. I know most people look forward to the Summer, but for me this winter weather is perfect and I've been walking every day when I can. The other reason is that the lump on my head turned out to be Solar Keratoses, which if not kept in check can turn into cancer. The doctor has told me to stay out of the sun, even shade doesn't change anything.

Anyway enough of my rambling. Your comment was much appreciated. 

Thank you.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Very glad you are able to go for walks again :0) But sorry to hear about your head - I hope you have a beautiful hat

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Thank you for your kind words Di. They mean a lot.

Jenny. x 

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

That sounds wonderful, Jenny. Reading poetry under shady trees in beautiful Canterbury. Memories of peaceful times, friendships and opportunities. Snapshots in time cherished forever.

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Jane, sitting reading poetry and listening to Pink Floyd under shady trees was just part of our little groups enjoyment back in the early 1970s. We went to quite a few parties in Canterbury, and met some warm and friendly people. My best friend at the time was quite wild and would lead me astray on many occassions. wink I'm so glad I had the experiences and wouldn't change them for the world. i often smile to myself when thinking about those situations. smiley

Life is so uncertain nowadays, just don't know what's coming next. I know I keep saying the same thing over and over, but I'm glad I was mad when I was young.

I'm always happy to hear from you and grateful for your feedback.

Many thanks.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by marandina on

"...yet still I'm
haunted by past voices that
consume.."

That's a reflective piece, Jenny. I sometimes think it's easier to look forward than backwards. There's no ghosts to deal with when you look ahead. Of course, they are always there when we turn around...

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Paul,

thanks for stopping by to read. I suppose my reflections of being haunted by old faces, is because I'm now in my 70s and looking back is more familiar to me than looking forward.

I'm sure you have so much more in life to achieve and many adventures on the horizon. That is good and an important road to follow. I hope all your future dreams come true, because you deserve each and every one of them.

Keep writing and loving life. wink

Jenny.

I 

 

Submitted by Turlough on

yet still I'm
haunted by past voices that
consume, distant whispers
carried on the breeze.

 

These words, or similar, go through my mind regularly as I think back to all the people I have known and lost for good, bad or sometimes inexplicable reasons. Memories of them have made a mark but I wonder if I spend too much time looking back. We can't change the past but we do have some say in what happens to us in the future. I know that's what I should be concentrating on but it doesn't contain the magic ingredient of nostalgia.

This is a very thought provoking poem. Well done Jenny. 

Turlough

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

It's lovely to hear from you Turlough. Hope you are well.

I'm not as adventurous as I was when younger, finding the world a scary place nowadays, and not understanding technology, or how to manoeuvre my way. I used to drive, but now my confidence in myself and other drivers has completely diminished, so I rely on my partner, though I'm quite happy at home and enjoy reading, writing and going for short walks. You still have that travel bug which I once craved. Don't ever loose it Turlough.

Memories I feel are what makes us different from any other species on the planet. I wonder if other creatures think about their past adventures! .

My Gran was always reminiscing about her younger days and would go into great detail, telling me of how naughty she'd been in her teenage years, she even smoked pot which I found so amusing.

I'm glad you found the poem thought provoking. Like you say the future doesn't contain that magic ingredients of nostalgia, but I'm sure you've many more journeys to fulfil, and I'm sure you will.

Many thanks for stopping by to read and let me know.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Turlough on

I'm very well thank you Jenny, and I'm happy to know that you're in much better shape than you have been. I hope that when the better weather arrives you manage to get out with your partner for some local adventures. I was talking to my daughter a couple of weeks ago about the nice places we used to visit when we lived in Wiltshire. Avebury stone circle was a big favourite, even if only for a short stroll and a pint on a summer's evening.

I do still have the travel bug and the sense of adventure but I feel they're a little diluted these days as my desire to climb mountains and cross deserts is no longer there. I think that's down to the dwindling confidence that comes with the ageing process. I still travel but not as far as I used to.

My Nan too used to reminisce about her mischievous childhood and youth in Sunderland. Black & White whiskey with the metal clasp on the lid and the two Scottie dogs on the label was often a feature of her tales, or the thing that fuelled the telling of them. She gave it up when she was eighty; not for health reasons but because she discovered Pernod whilst on holiday in Menorca with her friends.

Thanks to you too for your in-depth reply to my comment. It's always good to hear from you. 

Turlough

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Turlough,

this weather suits me, just love the clouds. I have to stay out of the sun due to finding a lump on my head that was checked by the doctor, it turns out I have solar keratoses and it could turn cancerous if not kept out of the sun. My mind has been telling me the sun's not good for me for many years, now I know why, so as you can imagine I'm dreading the summer months, where as everyone else just loves basking in it.

You mentioned Avebury. When I was driving I used to go there at least once a week, the stones are very special and remind me of stability, which is precious with their unchanging existence in a world of turmoil, is how I see it now.

Always enjoy reading you Turlough.

Take care.

Jenny.

 

 

Submitted by Turlough on

You do right to keep away from the sun Jenny. I tell myself that regularly but I'm useless at listening to my own advice, and we have a lot of sun here so I'm a fool to ignore it. I hope your keratoses improve or at least don't get any worse.

When my kids were little we had some big problems at home but no matter how upset we all were we found that a walk round the stones at Avebury eased the trauma going on in our minds. It is a very special healing sort of a place. Above my outside door here in Bulgaria I have a stone sheela na gig from the Henge Shop in Avebury village. She brings my Celtic roots to Balkan lands and greatly amuses the locals.

Turlough