The first leaf fell today,
lacking even grace of color,
to lie quiescent on the sidewalk
‘til wind-blown travel claimed it.
Soon millions more will throw themselves
to willing death,
flaming brightly before reduced to
crackling beneath feet in futile protest.
Days grow shorter, nights stretch longer,
nights where passion once flamed brightly,
now passing also into death,
unwilling on my part,
kamikaze-like on yours.
The fire that now burns
devours all the love
and leaves not even embers
that soft breath could coax back to life.
Autumn's harbingers
Lie dying before my eyes
Love once green now dead
Like this:
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This, that and the other thing 
Beautiful Janet! Happy fall! Our colors haven’t really changed much yet. Another week I imagine.
Not much color change here yet either, Nicole. There are signs and small changes, but nothing overtly fall-like yet.
I hope we still get good color and the leaves don’t just fall off! Strange fall weather here!
I love the way the picture had such great depth and perspective – like the poem.
“Soon millions more will throw themselves to willing death,”
Great line.
(Pray for Catalan – and for the human species in general to regain sanity)
And for Las Vegas as of last night. Just unbelievable.
janet
Maybe we do need tanks to go to concerts and the mall these days…de-evolution has arrived.
(What? The shooter was known to the police? Did someone finally actually put LSD in the water supply like they always worried about in the 60’s? Something is going on)
Gads.
I haven’t seen that the shooter was known to the police, but the problem is that even if he was, there’s not really anything they can do about it. They can’t assign an officer to watch all the people known to the police and they have to have probable cause for whatever they do.
My own feeling is that there are just not as many societal restraints any more. Not that people advocate going out and killing people, but right and wrong seems to have become blurred in all too many cases and common sense isn’t at all common any longer.
Yep. All true. Without an understanding of value of life, empathy, and basic right and wrong “you don’t do that because you just don’t”, we’re done. No regulators anymore: whether it’s religion, philosophical, protecting the family’s name, or simply respect for the laws society has decided upon. Civilization can only function when everyone agrees to follow the rules – and there are harsh consequences for not doing so…and no excuses accepted.
Fall seems to be a time of remembrance with a bitter-sweet feeling. check out the Cowboy Poetry by Bruce Kiskaddon “When They’ve Finished Shippin’ Cattle inn the Fall” on Cowboy Poetry.com. I couldn’t figure out how to forward it to this blog but it resonated with your poem.
Lovely poem, Janet.
I’ll look it up, Lenore. It’s lovely to have you drop by. I’m glad you enjoyed the poem and I hope all is going well with you.
If anyone would like to read the poem Lenore referenced, here’s the link: https://blog.cowboypoetry.com/2017/10/02/shippingcattle/
Strongly sentimental and a tribute to the season that steals our hearts. Well done.
Lovely.
Thanks very much, Sherry. I hope your week’s off to a good start.
janet
Very moving in words and image, Janet. The low level shot is very effective in all sorts of ways – physical and metaphorical.
Thanks so much, Tish. I’m glad you enjoyed both words and photo. 🙂
I applaud your writing skills. 🙂 I did some deadheading today and was surprised at how many leaves are down.
Thanks re: the writing skills, Judy. More leaves are down here, but not many as a percentage of all possible leaves. 🙂 There’s been some color change, but not a lot. I’m just enjoying it all as it happens.
janet
BTW, this isn’t a picture from this year.
Wow.
very powerful piece, wonderfully written, enjoyed the themes of love and death, the singularity of feeling and yet the realization that the multitude (“Soon millions more…”in the fifth line) will be going through the same thing, the irreversibility and inevitability – without your resorting to the use of seasonality and the saving grace of renewal come spring, which I appreciate your not having done that.
Kudos.
Randy
Thank you very much, kind sir. 🙂
janet
you put a good deal of work into it, you deserve it.
Beautiful, Janet!
What gets into people? I have no idea…
Jo, I can’t imagine hating anyone or being in so much despair that I would want to kill people I don’t even know in this sort of violence. It’s sad that so many people now feel this way and feel it’s OK to act on it.
I hate the way the media dwell on every last detail. And that sanctimonious president! No words…
I’ve found that the responses to the President’s responses are even worse: full of vile language and hate for both him and anyone possibly having supported him, saying that GOP supporters/conservatives deserve being killed, etc. It’s a no-win situation that continues to escalate. I wish people would shut up and get to work getting to know their neighbors, helping people in need, etc. That’s where change happens.
Lovely poem Janet! I’m back to blogging, please visit my new site! 🙂
Thanks and welcome back!
Beautiful poem Janet, there is an emotion, which will touch many hearts.
Thanks. I’m glad.
No signs of fall here, so lost in this snap I’m 🙂
I’m glad you are. 🙂 I just read this morning that in the western part of the US (Colorado, Montana, Wyoming), there’s been a lot of snow!
janet
Lovely poem Janet! The colors are beginning to change here now.
Thanks, Deborah. There’s been some change here, but not much yet. Right now, I’m happy because it looks like in the next few days we’re going to get some much-needed rain!
Beautiful, and very moving Janet. Both words and image.
Thanks very much, Su.