It’s time again for the AW Blog Chain, and this month’s theme is seasons. And just in time, I might add! I was going to share my poem, “Sniffle, Sniffle, Runny Nose,” but thought better of it. 😉 Here, instead, is…something…very akin to my August piece.
*****
It is the last day of humidity, heat-induced migraines, and summer bugs.
It is the scent of a pumpkin spice candle, a cup of sacred recipe hot cocoa, the snow on the air—not quite ready to fall.
It is Christmas lists, apple pies, and canned peaches.
It is the red of the Maple, the brown of the Oak, and the yellow of the Birch who sheds her leaves at the very last.
It is a return to home, settling in, and the gray boot socks that keep the chill away.
It is Thanksgiving and a million tiny snowmen, the raising of the tree, the turkey—thank God for the turkey—and all the fixins.
It is Bing Crosby on repeat all, repeat all, repeat all.
It is the moan and rattle of a wind that grabs and shakes the Pine,
the rush and flutter of the sparrows hiding from dagger-tipped raindrops,
the cloud that billows from my nostrils, only to be consumed by the vast and frigid night around me,
the sniffle turned sinus infection turned bronchitis that will bed me for weeks,
the last of Momma’s tomatoes, hanging in suspense as they await their final destiny in a glorious pot of homemade chili,
the fury and calm of Superior, demanding our respect and claiming the body, the life, and the breath of all who refuse it.
It is the only door to the Great White Season.
In its unrelenting and beautiful death of all that has so far been—
and thus, the first hope of all that has yet to be—
it is my favorite time of the year.
It is Autumn.
*****
Don’t forget to check out the other AW bloggers in the chain this month! These folks are quickly becoming my favorite bloggers.
Ralph_Pines: http://ralfast.wordpress.com/ and direct link to his post
Aheïla: http://thewriteaholicblog.wordpress.com/ and direct link to her post
DavidZahir: http://zahirblue.blogspot.com/ and direct link to his post
orion_mk3: http://nonexistentbooks.wordpress.com/ and direct link to his post
LadyMage: http://www.katherinegilraine.com/ and direct link to her post
semmie: https://semmie.wordpress.com/ <<< YOU ARE HERE
llalah: http://www.twylanonsequitur.blogspot.com/
hillaryjacques: http://www.hillaryjacques.blogspot.com/
AuburnAssassin: http://clairegillian.wordpress.com/
laffarsmith: http://www.craftingfiction.com/
sbclark: http://www.sonyaclark.net/
FreshHell: http://freshhell.wordpress.com/
PASeasholtz: http://www.paseasholtz.com/
SF4-EVER: http://www.ulbrichalmazan.blogspot.com/
T.N. Tobias: http://tnt-tek.com/
IrishAnnie: http://superpenpower.blogspot.com
Proach: http://desstories.blogspot.com/
mada: http://questioningseeking.blogspot.com/
WildScribe: http://polyspace.wordpress.com
barefooted semmie 
I’m very surprised by the number of participants who went for Autumn in this blog chain. It’s really a majority so far yet everyone has a different take on it.
I like the bittersweet way you describe it with some dreamy lines between the down-to-earth ones. 😉
Thanks for sharing your poetry!
And here I thought I was bucking the what everyone else would go for in choosing spring and autumn! Then again, considering how many people chose gray as their color, the ambiguity and mutability of the season must appeal to us 🙂
The one thing I like about fall is the end of Daylight Savings Time!
Thanks for sharing. I was lamenting the end of summer but your poem reminded me of the beauty of fall.
You remind me of this old, old Calgon Home candle I have that I don’t burn because of its scent: mulled cider.
I read this and I’m looking forward to the actual mulled cider stand that’s in Bryant Park come Thanksgiving. 🙂
Mmmmm. Mulled cider! I wouldn’t burn that candle, either. 🙂
semmie, that was lovely…and so sensual. Now I feel warm and cold and hungry.
Hillary. 🙂 That’s exactly what Upper Michigan Autumn is like–warm and cold and hungry. Hehehe.
I want some hot chocolate after this though it’s pushing the season. Post that sacred recipe. Nice poem, thanks for sharing.
Wonderful! I think I enjoyed this one even more than last month’s poem. So many lovely things that almost make up for “the sniffle turned sinus infection turned bronchitis that will bed me for weeks.” 😉
Tis a fair trade. 😉
I wonder how much liking or disliking Autumn/Winter has to do with ones affinity or lack there of for the Holidays?
Very nice post!
I loved this! However this line: “the sniffle turned sinus infection turned bronchitis that will bed me for weeks” rang a little too true to my own experiences for comfort. LOL
Wonderful poem, Thanks for sharing. I’m also way too familiar with the line: “the sniffle turned sinus infection turned bronchitis that will bed me for weeks” … sigh.
Claire and ReGypsy…come on over! We’ll throw a hot soup, pajama, NyQuil writing party. 🙂
lol ;o)
I love the cadence of your piece! Very smooth, very easy to read.
Great poem, Semmie. You put so much emotion into it and I love the description.
Like the others I could relate to the “the sniffle turned sinus infection turned bronchitis that will bed me for weeks”. I have a sniffle now that I’m hoping is just the turning of seasons (aka hayfever) but may be the final throw away from the cold of winter.
My favorite image is this this one: “It is the red of the Maple, the brown of the Oak, and the yellow of the Birch who sheds her leaves at the very last.”
Beautiful poetry.
Thanks, Rebecca! I have the sniffle, too…