October

Falling leaves glossy, shy and humble
often meet me wandering,
read wistfulness behind the smile
and offer themselves as paper–
sometimes to write upon and at other
to infuse
with wisdom; there is no end only passing
of what had once been.

On the cusp of midnight, the muse fits
into corners of my mind;
empty, for reasons indescribable
and prettier boughs
lining the avenue, urge, sketch on
canvass
along with his scent—
why is it
that we come to understand
nature
better after being fragile?

Darker longing pulls me into its orbit,
as clouds insatiable
turn to wind for solace and I think to myself,
what will I feel first?
Perhaps, it’s all about connection,
whether or not
the vibe we feel coincides with our own—
dare I take the plunge?

Broken pieces, the world revolves around
black and white, in turn
neglecting the areas
that are grey,
don’t we deserve

to be viewed from a different angle?
The rose shrubs are no longer budding,
it seems they lie

in wait for another century.

Autumn feisty is both wrathful and calm.
It requires one to let go,
embrace what is relevant
and what is new; the grey undertones,
the signs,
the literal concept
of starting afresh
if need be— how much can it hurt?
Leaves alone teach us that it’s possible.

 

 

 

Photo credits: Brown petaled flowers by Lilartsy, Pexels

Bjorn hosts at dVerse and invites us to try a new poetic form
known as
“Cadralor.” Come join us! 💝

Posted for Form For All: “Cadralor,” @dVerse Poets Pub

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48 thoughts on “October

  1. Ingrid says:

    I love how you examine Autumn from so many different angles here, Sanaa! My favourite stanza is the second last, perhaps because it echoes feelings I often have in Autumn:

    ‘Broken pieces, the world revolves around
    black and white, in turn
    neglecting the areas that are grey.’

    I can really identify with these lines! ❤️

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Ingrid 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️

  2. So many brilliant observations “there is no end only passing
    of what had once been.”,
    so many good questions “how much can it hurt?
    Leaves alone teach us that it’s possible.”
    and all because “the muse fits
    into corners of my mind;”

    Wonderful wordsmithing in your 5 stanzas

    1. oops – wrong email!

      1. Sanaa says:

        No worries ❤️❤️

    2. Sanaa says:

      Awww gosh! Thank you so much, Laura 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️

  3. Hi Sanaa! 😀
    This is full of such evocative observations of autumn.
    I like:
    “The rose shrubs are no longer budding,
    it seems they lie
    in wait for another century.”
    Yet–the hope at the end
    “Leaves alone teach us that it’s possible.” 💙

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Merril 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️

  4. Bjorn Rudberg says:

    Love where you took us through all these autumn colors leaving us with a grey canvas to fill with something new. Like a being reborn cleansed.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Bjorn 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️

      (and thank you for the glorious prompt) 🌹

  5. lillian says:

    “there is no end only passing
    of what had once been.” …… so very true.
    This is so beautifully writ, Sanaa.
    Stanza 2’s ending question…..so powerful in the asking.
    You take us on a journey here….love — love’s life cycle. And you remind us of the cycle of leaves, of nature….and we should recognize, we will be alright.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, my dearest Lillian 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️

  6. Ken Gierke says:

    Very well done. Each stanza stands on its own, yet there is a progression, with your final stanza bringing us back to the beginning.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Ken 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️

  7. “why is it that we come to understand nature better after being fragile?” Love this line!! Each stanza allows us to admire a new angle, great write!

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, my dearest Tricia 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️

  8. msjadeli says:

    Vivid imagery brings home your unifying theme of leaves as teachers. Another winner here, Sanaa.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Lisa 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️

  9. calmkate says:

    a delightful meander through autumn with romantic undertones!
    My fav lines were
    “Perhaps, it’s all about connection,
    whether or not
    the vibe we feel coincides with our own—
    dare I take the plunge?”
    a question we ask so often throughout our lives and you nailed it here

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Kate 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️

  10. Kerfe says:

    Hard to pick out what I like best here. The song it sings is so reflective of autumn.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Kerfe 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️

  11. Gillena Cox says:

    Lub that you caught the cpntemplation of Autumn between ending and traversing. Nice

    Much💜love

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Gillena 😀 so good to see you 💄❤️

      Much love back ..

  12. Grace says:

    We wrote about the same theme – autumn. The ending stanza brings it together with thoughtful reflection, acceptance of what is new, grey and embracing the colors of life.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Grace 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️

  13. lynn__ says:

    Wonderfully relevant, Sanaa! LOVE these lines from 4th stanza:

    “Broken pieces, the world revolves around
    black and white, in turn
    neglecting the areas that are grey,
    don’t we deserve
    to be viewed from a different angle?”

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Lynn 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️

  14. Helen says:

    Love the Autumn theme running thru this …. bringing your poem to a wonderful conclusion in stanza #5.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, my dearest Helen 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️

  15. Dora says:

    Sanaa,
    What a turbulent read, much like “Autumn feisty is both wrathful and calm”! Each passage exquisitely constructed to reveal and hide the conflicting desires underneath the changes, they each show off your singular poetic skill. I always look forward to reading your writing, Sanaa, and I’m never disappointed.
    pax,
    dora

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Dora 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️

  16. K.Hartless says:

    Oh, the fiesty fall. Love that and how spunky your poem is throughout. Wise, those leaves.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, K.Hartless 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️

  17. Paul Cannon says:

    I resonated with this, always the questions that rise up, and the wonderful retort, how much can it hurt. Life’s abiding question, and the wrestling with the possible.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Paul 🙂 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️

  18. “there is no end only passing
    of what had once been”

    What a perfect description of autumn! We all feel it–the goddess’ despair at the loss of her child. It’s easy to forget that spring comes, whether or not we remember. I wrote last year on the same thing: https://xanhaiku.wordpress.com/2020/11/03/november/

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Alexandra 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️

  19. Oh I LOVE this Sanaa! Yes Autumn is an ending , not a beginning. It goes from ending into winter’s hibernation before being born again. I found the poem so sensual in many ways and these lines particularly resonated with me
    ‘why is it that we come to understand
    nature better after being fragile?,
    Thank you for a beautiful poem. I find nature so healing ☺️❤️

    1. Sanaa says:

      Awwww gosh! Thank you so much, Christine 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️

    1. Sanaa says:

      ❤️❤️❤️

  20. Sunra Rainz says:

    I love all the symbolism of transition that runs through this poem, and all the sensory elements you describe. I enjoyed all your questions, especially:
    “don’t we deserve to be viewed from a different angle?”
    “how much can it hurt?”
    <3

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, my dearest Sunra 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️

  21. grapeling says:

    yes. how much can it hurt? more, it appears. always more.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, M 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️

  22. Autumn and pain. I see and felt the bigger metaphor here, Sanaa. But totally love your finest details like this one:
    The rose shrubs are no longer budding,
    it seems they lie
    in wait for another century.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Rosemarie 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️

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