It isn’t unusual for November to be dark
and brooding,
given that leaves are falling–
ochre- yellow ruminations that speak
of soft details in all living things,
I wonder, what throwing words into the abyss
would bring, whether they would crumble
to the floor or fly?
There is wisdom in the way we try
and fail and try again.
Second stanza – Merril
The way we strain to hear the silver song
of frost formed in moonbeams,
and ponder the wandering of stars—and if
from the depths of canyons or within a
fathomless black hole,
a glimmer of light seeks more,
like words looking for a sentence.
I can only wait for our own star
to flower pink and make a bower
in the sky.
Yet now–
It’s too cold to break bread outside, too bleak
to revel in the idea of sunshine,
it’s one of the many moods of November,
when hills are a profusion of vermillion trees
and unstructured time,
let us be quiet for a while,
drink in nature’s mute energies and become
misty-eyed–
remembrance, they say, is a terrible crime.
Last stanza – Merril
But what do they know? I remember
seaside summers and picnics on the grass.
I remember hands that grew frail
and eyes that dimmed.
And if November is a dirge for what was,
perhaps it’s a paean for what will be.
There are no shadows without the light,
and flowers like dreams must be tended.
I hear the crackle-crunch of cinnamon-dusted
leaves. They’ve given up their souls,
but squirrels scamper through them
to bury seeds. Some will bloom in spring.
Photo credits: Pinterest
A poem about the many moods of November. I had the pleasure of writing
this one last week with Merril D. Smith 💙
Posted for Open Link Night #351 @dVerse Poets Pub
26 Responses
This is a heartwarming poem, I remember the collab we did a long time ago with poets I got to know from twitter, it was actually what started my blog all those years ago… I think you manage to speak with one voice in a great way and I love how you moved from the dirge of November to the hope in the last stanza of the acorns buried and lost to be oaks. Great job both of you
Yes, I remember that time! It is such a great exercise. I love how two voices blend into one!
Thank you so much, Bjorn 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️
What a lovely blending of voices and verses. Both of you penned striking images of November with a hope for the coming spring season.
Thank you so much, Grace 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️
You two do duets well. An encouraging poem. Thank you both for keeping the light burning.
Awww gosh! Thank you so much, Lisa 😀 so glad you liked it! We had fun writing it 💄❤️
What a lovely collaboration and such a wonderful description of this time of year. I’ve never collaborated on a poem – it’s an intriguing idea.
Thank you so much, Freya 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️
Beautiful duet, full of magickal imagery and it has a fairy-like Tolkienesque tone to it.
That is such high praise! Thank you so much, Oloriel 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️
Beautiful poetry. I love the crackle of cinnamon dusted leaves. beautiful.
Thank you so much, Di 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️
Absolutely love that last image of the squirrel among the dried leaves.
There is so much purpose in life and journey to understanding.
Thanks for dropping by my blog
Much🖤love
Thank you so much, Gillena 😀 so good to see you 💄❤️
Much love back 🥂
How well you both wrote together and read together, Sanaa – as so often, it is good to see the words on the “page” too. If you are ever looking for another partner in rhyme…
Thank you so much, Andrew 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️
Bravo to you two! such a dynamic poetic duo -I always enjoy both your poetry styles and just this time it is your
“ochre- yellow ruminations that speak
of soft details in all living things,”
and Merril’s
“I hear the crackle-crunch of cinnamon-dusted
leaves. They’ve given up their souls,”
Thank you so much, Laura 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️
This was so much fun to write, Sanaa! I would do it again! 💙
Yes absolutely! Thank you so much for writing this one with me, Merril! 💙💙💙
I cannot believe how effortlessly this poem flows from stanza to stanza. You are both to be congratulated on a successful / lovely collaboration.
Thank you so much, Helen 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️
A remarkable duet of poetry! Loved every measure of it – Just wow!
Thank you so much, Dora 😀 so glad the poem and its imagery appealed to you 💄❤️
This is such a Sanaa poem- the way the imagery pulls you along until you’re lost in the world created and you have to go back and read it again (and again)
Awww gosh! Thank you so much, Xan 😀 so glad you enjoyed it! 💄❤️