Autumnus Mortem


Orange crumbled into brown
until October couldn’t
breathe beyond the frost.

Death’s autumn carnival
surrendered its tent
to the north wind.

Sunlight stares at matchstick limbs
and imagines splashes of green, robins’ nests,
and tulip colors painting earth’s breast.

©Susie Clevenger 2016


Real Toads ~ The Tuesday Platform

Comments

Audrey Howitt aka Divalounger said…
I love the personification here--your images are so vivid--
October 25, 2016 at 5:03 PM
Justin Lamb said…
Great description of fall changing to winter.
October 25, 2016 at 5:16 PM
Timoteo said…
Wish I were in this picture (and the one you've painted)...it's still the mid nineties here!
October 25, 2016 at 6:05 PM
Dr. Vandana Sharma said…
The title is so catchy and the poem is marvelous~
October 26, 2016 at 1:25 AM
Kim M. Russell said…
A wonderful opening line: 'Orange crumbled into brown' and it didn't stop there, Susie! A gorgeous poem to autumn.
October 26, 2016 at 1:37 AM
Marian said…
Pretty, pretty, even in decay. Be awhile for those pastels and tulips.
October 26, 2016 at 9:41 AM
Anonymous said…
Vivid description of winter's arrival. Nicely done.
October 26, 2016 at 10:06 AM
Kerry O'Connor said…
I love the title, susie. It is perfect. And all comes together like a beautiful work of art.
October 26, 2016 at 11:48 AM
Anonymous said…
One really has to love that ending
October 26, 2016 at 3:53 PM
Rommy said…
This is just so vivid. The word choices here are beyond marvelous.
October 26, 2016 at 5:50 PM
Outlawyer said…
Ha-- vivid images--I am right now in city, but where I truly love (upstate NY) there are six inches of snow coming. k.
October 27, 2016 at 4:54 AM
Gillena Cox said…
Wow, really luv this


much love...
October 27, 2016 at 9:46 AM
Jim said…
Such a pretty reminder of season changing of the guard, Susie. My pick is October, "Orange crumbled into brown. Such a lovely month changed to brown as our elderly change to gray, and wrinkles. I read this the other night, I don't remember it having a third verse. Right, or did I leave too soon?
..
October 27, 2016 at 11:43 AM
Rosemary Nissen-Wade said…
What a gorgeous ekphrastic! (I'm assuming it must be, as it is such a perfect description of the picture.) And what a very original, yet apt, poem on autumn.
October 28, 2016 at 7:23 AM
kaykuala said…
Great to be witnessing the change of seasons. More so from colorful golden to bare coldness

Hank
October 29, 2016 at 5:47 PM
baili said…
ahh
what aan amazing painting of beautiful words to define the enchantment of fall
November 3, 2016 at 1:24 AM
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