and the garden diminishes: cucumber leaves rumpled
and rusty, zucchini felled by borers, tomatoes sparse
on the vines. But out in the perennial beds, there’s one last
blast of color: ignitions of goldenrod, flamboyant
asters, spiraling mums, all those flashy spikes waving
in the wind, conducting summer’s final notes.
The ornamental grasses have gone to seed, haloed
in the last light. Nights grow chilly, but the days
are still warm; I wear the sun like a shawl on my neck
and arms. Hundreds of blackbirds ribbon in, settle
in the trees, so many black leaves, then, just as suddenly,
they’re gone. This is autumn’s great Departure Gate,
and everyone, boarding passes in hand, waits
patiently in a long, long line.
No doubt about the season, just as Crooker describes. I picked the last tomatoes yesterday after the frost warning and contemplated cucumbers just to see their rumpled and rusty leaves, such a gorgeous phrase.
My heart springs open to see the fall flowers, especially zinnias with their extravagant colours, all those flashy spikes waving / in the wind, conducting summer’s final notes. The magnificent music of summer’s bounty and the tall grasses haloed in the last light, a sight that always makes me pause in wonder.
Can’t you just feel the sun’s warmth reading her words I wear the sun like a shawl on my neck / and arms. And the black leaves of the blackbirds gathering in trees before leaving us wingless creatures to face the colder weather.
It is the final line that captures the essence of this time of year for me: This is autumn’s great Departure Gate. Patiently waiting in line with our boarding passes – does anyone know where we are going? Regardless, the important thing is to take in this glorious, colour-filled season while we have it, so enjoy!
Nobody knows where we are going. It sure is a great practice to see the beauty in as many things as we can each day. Watching the news every minute is way too much.
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So true Donna, so very true – a great practice to see the beauty! be well, love Jan
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Thank you for this, Jan. The naming of all these signs somehow allows me to follow with more equanimity – rather than the futile resistance to losing summer. ☺️
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I think many/most of us can relate to that ‘futile resistance to losing summer’ Jean, so yes, better to notice the signs of autumn beauty. Enjoy! love Jan
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Thank you Jan for this colourful poem…perfectly attuned to this beautiful breeze this Wednesday morning that caressed my skin as I walked in the parc and invited me the enjoy the present moment!
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Beautifully expressed Francine with you attuned to the present moment! love Jan
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Fall is my favourite season. I love walking in the leaves, the cooler temperatures, the beautiful fall colours and watching the crows gather before they leave. What a beautiful gift leading to “autumn’s great departure gate”.
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It’s my favourite too Sandra – I loved ‘autumn’s great departure gate’ 🙂 love Jan
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I love every season and autumn has always been my favourite. Crooker captures the autumn brilliance so beautifully in this poem – and the warmth – “Nights grow chilly, but the days are still warm;” I savour the warmth of the still warm sun in September and October – and I also love “…to wear the sun like a shawl on my neck and arms….” I love that line.
Thank you so much for sharing this poem Jan.
Love, Lisa
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I too loved that image, to wear the sun like a shawl on my neck and arms – delicious! love Jan
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thanks Jan
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thanks Rich
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Yes, Fall is definitely a season of “mellowed fruitfulness” yet this poem shines light lusciously on the bright bursts of Fall-“blasts of colour and flashy spikes“. Glorious words to celebrate the glory of this abundant and delicious season! Can’t wait to go apple picking!
Thanks Jan, for sharing.
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Wonderful Nancy, just reaped the benefit of a neighbour’s apple picking today 🙂 Thanks for writing, Jan
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Lovely poem. It’s been so jarring for the half a million or so in the West who can’t go outside to work in garden due to air quality, or gardens are covered with ash, or much worse. These seasons and this connection with earth ground and help so many, especially during this pandemic, and are amiss.
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Ah Elizabeth, so true and all the more reason for us not to take these pleasures for granted, always important to take in the beauty. best, Jan
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Such a perfect poem, Jan! The beauty of the bounty…and the mystery of the leaving. Thanks. Love – Mary Lou
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Yes, the mystery of leaving in which we may also find beauty. thanks Mary Lou, love Jan
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