II S SS SU UE E
F FO OU UR R
an ode to autumn S SE EP PT TE EM MB BE ER R
2 20 02 2 11
contents page contents page 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 22
contents contents page page editor's editor's note note each each day day thomas thomas andrew andrew richardson richardson
autumn's autumn's incantation incantation christina christina ciufo ciufo
northern northern red red oaks oaks christina christina ciufo ciufo
paris' paris' autumn autumn hymn hymn christina christina ciufo ciufo
life life of of leaves leaves veronica veronica jarboe jarboe
fireworks fireworks lawrence lawrence moore moore
les les feuilles feuilles mortes mortes james james penha penha
mid-autumn mid-autumn falling falling into into laiba laiba yousuf yousuf
0 2
too, too, autumn autumn robert robert mccarthy mccarthy
wild wild mushrooms mushrooms laurence laurence levy-atkinson levy-atkinson
the the apple apple tree tree next next door door dee dee grimes grimes
autumn autumn in in alabama alabama rachel rachel tanner tanner
the the sun sun in in fall fall carol carol casey casey
catalog catalog of of certainty certainty tom tom lagasse lagasse
in in autumn autumn julien julien harman-evans harman-evans
these these things things ii know know of of fall fall elizabeth elizabeth bates bates
september september mandy mandy moe moe pwint pwint tu tu
contributors contributors list list
editor's note
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“an ode to autumn”
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0 3
each day
tt h ho om ma as s a an nd d rr e ew w rr ii c ch ha a rr d ds so on n
there’s there’s a a magic magic to to these these hazy hazy days days when when concern concern only only exists exists in in finding finding the the exit exit to to the the maze maze made made of of maize maize at at a a pumpkin pumpkin patch patch with with friends friends dressed dressed in in knit knit where where the the squashes squashes are are big big and and we we play play a a thousand thousand games games of of tig tig
crunching crunching the the rainbow rainbow
of of dead dead leaves leaves
below below grazed grazed knees, knees,
and and games games of of hide hide and and seek seek in in the the no no leaf leaf trees trees
memories memories that that stay stay of of each each cosier cosier day day that that always always feels feels like like a a much much longer longer day day you you wouldn’t wouldn’t mind mind if if if if those those days days last last forever forever each each day, day, every every day day hazed hazed by by happiness happiness and and the the weather weather
as as the the year year g g rr o o w w s s later later and and all all that that remains remains is is each each day day to to make make a a little little bit bit greater. greater.
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autumn's incantation c ch h rr ii s s tt ii n na a c c ii u u ff o o
in in a a field, field, wheat wheat and and maize maize oscillates, oscillates, their their brown-green brown-green leaves leaves caressed caressed by by the the sun’s sun’s amber-scarlet amber-scarlet light, light, underneath underneath the the golden-charcoal golden-charcoal autumn autumn sky. sky. red red squirrel squirrel scurries, scurries, burying burying acorns acorns in in the the ground. ground. snowshoe snowshoe hare hare bounces. bounces. hedgehogs hedgehogs roll roll in in orange-golden orange-golden leaves. leaves. great-horned great-horned owl’s owl’s brown-grey brown-grey feathers feathers and and barn barn owl’s owl’s gray-rufous gray-rufous feathers feathers twirl twirl and and plummet. plummet. red red fox’s fox’s golden golden eyes eyes peer peer and and illuminate illuminate through through the the bushes. bushes. elk’s elk’s deep, deep, bemoaning bemoaning roar roar echoes echoes through through the the forest. forest. black black cat cat tiptoes. tiptoes. scarecrows scarecrows dawn dawn on on ripped ripped jean jean and and green green overalls, overalls, long long sleeved sleeved red-black red-black plaid plaid and and tan tan shirts, shirts, and and dirt-covered, dirt-covered, torn torn cowboy cowboy hats hats square square dance dance in in the the corn corn fields. fields. maple’s maple’s burgundy burgundy leaves leaves and and white white oak’s oak’s golden golden leaves, leaves, like like a a church’s church’s stain stain glass glass windows, windows, illuminate. illuminate. apples apples plucked plucked from from tree tree branches. branches. tractors tractors eating eating apple apple cider cider donuts donuts and and slices slices of of apple apple butter butter pumpkin pumpkin pie pie at at farmer’s farmer’s market. market. hazelnut, hazelnut, apple, apple, and and pumpkin pumpkin pies pies steam. steam. bonfire bonfire illuminates illuminates and and crackles. crackles. wind wind whispers whispers to to the the maple maple and and oak oak trees, trees, around around the the bonfire’s bonfire’s golden-amber golden-amber flames, flames, and and into into my my ear, ear, reciting reciting autumn’s autumn’s incantation. incantation.
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northern red oaks c ch h rr ii s s tt ii n na a c c ii u u ff o o
golden-auburn golden-auburn night night sky sky appears appears and and illuminates illuminates its’ its’ light light over over fields fields of of black-eyed black-eyed susans, susans, sapphire sapphire stream, stream, purple-scarlet purple-scarlet ornamental ornamental grasses, grasses, fox’s fox’s den, den, and and the the slumbering slumbering forest. forest.
acorns, acorns, earthly, earthly, plummet, plummet, plummet, plummet, and and plummet plummet from from tree tree branches, branches, onto onto the the grass, grass, and and shawled shawled in in brown brown soil. soil.
branches branches emanate emanate from from the the soil. soil. Its Its branches branches twist, twist, curl, curl, and and like like fingers, fingers, reaches reaches towards towards the the sky. sky.
small small scarlet-auburn scarlet-auburn buds buds protrude protrude – – blossoming blossoming oak oak leaves, leaves, their their scarlet-auburn scarlet-auburn complexion, complexion, like like fire’s fire’s light light underneath underneath the the harvest harvest moon, moon, alluring, alluring, beautiful, beautiful, sublunary, sublunary, and and numinous, numinous, each each leaf leaf casts casts scarlet scarlet shadows, shadows, against against moss-covered moss-covered logs logs and and trees’ trees’ ashen ashen trunks, trunks, conjuring conjuring autumn autumn equinox equinox enchantment. enchantment.
northern northern red red oaks, oaks, autumn’s autumn’s trees trees submerged submerged underneath underneath the the harvest harvest moon’s moon’s light, light, adjured adjured by by ancient ancient magic. magic.
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paris' autumn hymn c ch h rr ii s s tt ii n na a c c ii u u ff o o
in in the the streets, streets, honey honey locusts locusts and and linden linden trees’ trees’ leaves leaves changes, changes, their their gold-crimson gold-crimson complexion complexion caressed caressed by by the the paris paris winds, winds, reflected reflected in in seine’s seine’s sapphire sapphire hair. hair. greylag greylag geese geese swim swim in in jardin jardin des des plantes’ plantes’ lake. lake. fallow fallow deer deer prance prance through through the the forest. forest. badger badger burrows burrows in in the the ground. ground. horse horse chestnut’s chestnut’s brown brown leaves leaves plummet. plummet. sweet sweet alyssums alyssums coil coil around around ruined, ruined, charcoal charcoal columns. columns. grand grand cascade’s cascade’s waters waters shawled shawled in in moss moss and and auburn-scarlet auburn-scarlet oak oak leaves. leaves. fiddle fiddle strings strings strum strum their their soft soft notes. notes. tambourine tambourine beats beats softly softly and and in in sync. sync. accordion accordion widens. widens. gargoyles gargoyles eat eat crème crème brûlées brûlées at at a a café. café. café café crème crème streaming. streaming. scarlet, scarlet, orange, orange, gold, gold, and and brown brown macarons macarons displayed displayed at at a a bakery’s bakery’s window. window. apples, apples, pears, pears, pomegranate, pomegranate, mushrooms, mushrooms, figs, figs, and and pumpkin pumpkin with with oil oil complexions complexions painted, painted, forming forming a a face, face, and and displayed displayed at at the the louvre. louvre. eiffel eiffel tower tower illuminates illuminates underneath underneath the the autumn autumn night night sky. sky. autumn autumn wind’s wind’s fingers fingers caresses caresses against against an an august august förster förster piano’s piano’s white white keys, keys, playing playing the the notes notes and and like like leaves, leaves, they they blow blow and and twirl twirl through through the the silent silent streets, streets, around around the the honey honey locusts’ locusts’ and and linden linden trees’ trees’ fingers, fingers, and and the the eiffel eiffel tower, tower, playing playing paris’ paris’ autumn autumn hymn hymn
0 7
life of leaves v ve e rr o on n ii c ca a jj a a rr b bo oe e
lle ea av ve es s ffa allll a an nd d b be eg giin n tto o s stta ac ck k tth hrre ea atte en niin ng g tto o a av va alla an nc ch he e lliik ke e a a c ca as sc ca ad de e o off w wa arrm m c co ollo orr
lle ea av ve es s b bllo oo om m k kn no ow wiin ng g tth he ey y w wiillll d diie e a an nd d ffa allll,, y ye ett tth he ey y g grro ow w
y yo ou u h he ea arr iitt iin n tth he e w wiin nd d a as s tth he ey y d de ec co om mp po os se e rre ed d tto o y ye ellllo ow w tto o s sk ke elle etto on n
p piirro ou ue ettttiin ng g iin n tth he e w wiin nd d tth he en n c crru un nc ch h b be en ne ea atth h o on ne e’’s s ffe ee ett.. lle ea av ve es s w wh hiic ch h w we erre e o on nc ce e s so o ffu ullll o off lliiffe e c co om me e tto o d diie e o on n tth he e s sttrre ee ett
tto o b be ec co om me e a a c crra ac ck klliin ng g,, ffrra ag giille e,, rre es siilliie en ntt v ve errs siio on n o off d do ow wn ntto ow wn n’’s s g gu utttte err-ffiilllle ed d s sn no ow w w wa as stte ed d a aw wa ay y p pa arrtt o off tth he e c ciitty y a an nd d p pa arrtt o off s so om me etth hiin ng g m mo orre e? ?
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fireworks ll a aw w rr e en nc ce e m mo oo o rr e e
w we e s se e tt tt ll e e a a tt k k ii n ng g g ge eo o rr g ge e '' s s ff ii e e ll d d ,, tt h he e c c rr o ow wd d e ex xp pa an nd ds s ,, tt h he en n c c ll o os se es s ii n n .. tt e en n tt h ho ou us sa an nd d ll ii tt tt ll e e p p rr ii v va a tt e e w wo o rr ll d ds s c co on ns su um m ii n ng g s sw we ee e tt s s ,, ii m ma ag g ii n n ii n ng g .. a a w wh ho oo os sh h ff rr o om m n no ow wh he e rr e e ,, e ey ye es s a a rr e e tt u u rr n ne ed d ii n n s se ea a rr c ch h o o ff ff rr e es sh h ll y y b b rr o ok ke en n d da a rr k k .. tt h he e m mu u ll tt ii c co o ll o ou u rr e ed d ff ll o ow we e rr b b ll o oo om ms s ;; y yo ou u ll e ea an n ii n ng g rr ii g gh h tt h ha as s c ca au us se ed d a a s sp pa a rr k k .. e ea ac ch h ff rr o oz ze en n m m ii n nu u tt e e ll e e ff tt b be eh h ii n nd d n no ow w c cu up p ii d d '' s s b bo ow w h ha as s m ma ad de e ii tt s s m ma a rr k k ..
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les feuilles mortes jj a am me es s p pe en nh ha a
tt h he e rr e e a a rr e e n no o a au u tt u um mn n ll e ea av ve es s h he e rr e e w wh he e rr e e g g rr e ee en n ff rr o on nd ds s ff a a ll ll tt o o d de ea a tt h h e ev ve e rr y y d da ay y ff rr o om m e ev ve e rr y y tt rr e ee e a an nd d v v ii n ne e o on n tt h h ii s s tt rr o op p ii c ca a ll ll ii n ne e s se e tt tt o o z ze e rr o o ,, a an nd d s so o m me e rr c ce e rr '' s s m me e tt a ap ph ho o rr o o ff p pe e rr ii o od d ii c c ll o os ss s w w rr e ea ak ks s tt h he e w wa ay y y yo ou u s s ii n ng g ii tt s s ii n nc ce e a a ll ll o ou u rr v ve e rr s se es s ,, a a ll ll o ou u rr s s tt a an nz za as s ,, a a ll ll o ou u rr ff a a ll ll ii n ng g ,, a a ll ll o ou u rr m m ii s ss s ii n ng g m mo os s tt o o ff a a ll ll ,, m my y d da a rr ll ii n ng g ,, h ha as s n no o o on ne e s se ea as so on n ..
1 0
mid-autumn falling into ll a a ii b ba a
y yo ou us su u ff
september september - the the hours hours of of night night and and day day are are the the same; same; and and the the restless restless nights nights with with dancing dancing fireflies fireflies are are morphing morphing into into the the midst midst of of a a descending descending blanket, blanket, tthe he promise promise of of fresh fresh rain rain and and crisp crisp air air returns returns beyond beyond silent silent hues hues of of turning turning leaves leaves & & lunar lunar phases phases
tropical tropical nights nights have have passed: passed: the the freshmen freshmen shed shed their their cocoons cocoons and and harvest harvest what what we've we've sown sown in in our our middle-school middle-school years years fall fall rrolls olls in in with with caramel caramel leaves leaves & & earthly earthly scent scent
& & before before the the first first frost, frost, / / we we make make a a clearing clearing for for tthe he ffire ire pit pit / / to to serve serve as as a a lighthouse lighthouse in in the the wild wild / / like like a a family family tradition tradition / / & & oh, oh, the the joy joy to to jump jump on on a a pile pile of of leaves leaves with with cold cold hands hands wrapped wrapped around around a a mug mug of of hot hot cocoa cocoa / / whipped whipped with with cream cream / / our our strawberry strawberry ttongues ongues coated coated with with milk milk foam, foam, the the aroma aroma prompting prompting willy willy wonka's wonka's chocolate chocolate bars bars / / the the sun sun sleeps sleeps early early tonight, tonight, and and so so are are we we
1 1
too, autumn rr o ob be e rr tt m mc cc ca a rr tt h hy y
they they say say that that autumn autumn rhymes rhymes with with otium; otium; delicious delicious idleness idleness of of harvest-home. harvest-home. trees trees bow bow beneath beneath their their freights freights of of fruit; fruit; gleaners gleaners meanwhile, meanwhile, under under their their haystacks, haystacks, fast fast asleep. asleep. and and the the goddess goddess “foison,” “foison,” in in keats’ keats’ high, high, romantic romantic diction, diction, herself herself a-drowse a-drowse in in the the bee-loud bee-loud glade. glade.
yes, yes, jack jack the the flash flash is is there there before before me, me, precluding precluding (pretty (pretty much) much) much much more more in in the the way way of of autumnal autumnal poesy. poesy. and and yet yet the the season’s season’s sexy sexy melancholy melancholy does does compel,-compel,-- even even as as it it grows grows sparing sparing of of daylight. daylight. the the sun, sun, of of an an evening, evening, sinks sinks like like the the leaden leaden plumb plumb at at a a plumb plumb line’s line’s end. end. weather weather is is sluggish, sluggish, as as if if earth earth could could slow slow its its diurnal diurnal grind; grind; fronts fronts stalled, stalled, clouds clouds always always similar; similar; the the ornamental ornamental grasses grasses flare flare and and die. die. and and that that something something in in the the air’s air’s most most likely likely snow. snow.
sweater-weather sweater-weather now now in in picker-bush picker-bush country; country; burs, burs, appliqued appliqued across across your your wooly wooly jumper, jumper, require require a a laying laying on on of of hands. hands. clever-clumsy clever-clumsy surgery surgery (mine) (mine) of of bur-front-ectomy; bur-front-ectomy; gourds gourds touched, touched, somehow somehow swollen swollen yet yet soft. soft. you you winked winked and and smiled, smiled, so so slightly, slightly, at at each each deliberate deliberate fault. fault.
a a foggy foggy fall fall night night impends; impends; the the season’s season’s last last hay hay ride. ride. couples couples a-grapple a-grapple beneath beneath bastions bastions of of straw. straw. the the wagon wagon closely closely follows follows two two horses’ horses’ dauntless dauntless rumps rumps towards towards a a track track into into the the trees. trees. loose loose leaves leaves drift drift down, down, gentle, gentle, upon upon our our teen-aged teen-aged night night moves. moves.
1 2
wild mushrooms ll a au u rr e en nc ce e
ll e ev vy y-a a tt k k ii n ns so on n
mu mushrooms shrooms grow grow best best in in the the darkness darkness so so when when summer summer ends, ends, the the foothills foothills ring ring with with them; them; too too many many trees trees and and too too much much dark dark
for for really really anything anything bu butt mos moss s and and fungus fungus to to grow. grow. the the kind kind of of things things that that look look pre pretty tty enough enough at at first first glance glance but but when when you you b brreak eak them them down down to to mechanism mechanism and and seed, seed,
it’s it’s no no surprise surprise they’re they’re the the things things to to rise rise ou outt of of the the dampest dampest corners. corners. ttrees rees too, too, if if we’re we’re honest honest about about it. it. the the whole whole ecosystem ecosystem one one glorious, glorious,
c cannibalistic annibalistic comedy comedy of of rise rise and and fall; fall; meal, meal, excretion, excretion, collapse collapse and and birth. birth. the the same same cycle cycle repeated repeated generations generations on on end end until until it it looks looks pretty pretty enough enough for for us us to to stop stop noticing noticing
th that at everything everything green green and and magnificent magnificent feeds feeds on on the the dead. dead. the the crushed crushed and and spent spent bones bones we we u use se for for fuel. fuel. the the darkness darkness and and rot rot that that births births mushrooms. mushrooms.
1 3
the apple tree next door d de ee e g g rr ii m me es s
ll e em mo on n-s sh ha ad de ed d ll e ea av ve es s p pe e rr ff o o rr m m tt h he e ii rr ff ii n na a ll d d rr ii ff tt − − ii n ne e ll e eg ga an n tt p p ii rr o ou ue e tt tt e es s a an nd d ll a az zy y a a rr c cs s ;; ii n nc c ii p p ii e en n tt c co om mp pa an n ii o on ns s ff o o rr b b rr o ow wn n ,, b b rr ii tt tt ll e e tt w w ii g gs s a an nd d b b rr e ea a tt h h ll e es ss s w we ee ed ds s ,, e en nc co om mp pa as ss s ii n ng g h he e rr ff e ee e tt .. c co oa a rr s se e s sk k ii n n n no ow w b ba a rr e e ,, e ex xc ce ep p tt ff o o rr a an n tt s s ’’ tt rr e ea ad d ,, c ca as sc ca ad de e o o ff rr a a ii n nd d rr o op ps s a an nd d m mu u rr m mu u rr s s o o ff tt h he e w w ii n nd d .. s su um mm me e rr s su ub bs s ii d de es s ..
1 4
autumn in alabama rr a ac ch he e ll
tt a an nn ne e rr
the the sepia-toned sepia-toned season season reminds reminds
me me
that that we we fell fell
like like
leaves leaves
into into piles piles and and into into each each other other and and into into noticeably noticeably absent absent futures futures and and we we just just went went down down down down down down
until until the the chill chill in in the the air air
warned warned of of coming coming winter. winter.
but but we we didn’t didn’t listen, listen, did did we? we? w we e never never listened. listened. we we always always
sipped sipped cider cider by by the the fire fire
as as if if the the world world around around us us had had stopped. stopped.
(and (and it it did did stop. stop. and and we we did did hurt. hurt. and and the the nevers nevers found found their their way way back back to to us us once once again.) again.)
1 5
the sun in fall c ca a rr o o ll c ca as se ey y
tt h he e w wa ay y ii tt g g ll ii n n tt s s o o ff ff g go o ll d de en n ll e ea av ve es s ii n n a an nd d o ou u tt o o ff rr ii c ch h a a ii rr p pa a rr tt ii c c ll e es s ll ii ff tt s s d da am mp p ii m mp pe en nd d ii n ng g p pa am mp ph h ll e e tt s s o o ff ff tt h he e g g rr o ou un nd d ,, d d rr ii e es s tt h he em m d da an nc c ii n ng g ,, s sa ac c rr e ed d ,, ii n n tt o o s so oa a rr ii n ng g b b ii rr d d- tt h ho ou ug gh h tt s s ,, ll ii g gh h tt e en ns s a au u tt u um mn n ’’ s s tt o o ii ll s s tt o o jj o oy y ,, b bu u rr d de en ns s tt o o g g ii ff tt s s ,, h ha a rr v ve es s tt s s ,, p p rr o om m ii s se es s k ke ep p tt ..
w w ii n nd d ff a a ll ll ii n n tt e eg g rr ii tt y y ,, c c rr ii m ms so on n d de ee ep p a ag g ll o ow w ,, c ca a ll m me ed d ,, rr e ed de ee em me ed d ,, ii n n tt h he e b b ii tt tt e e rr -s sw we ee e tt n ne es ss s o o ff d do oo o rr w wa ay ys s c c ll o os s ii n ng g ii n n tt o o o op pe en n ii n ng gs s tt h ha a tt m ma ak ke e ll e es ss s s se en ns se e y ye e tt s sa a tt ii s s ff y y b be ey yo on nd d tt h he e o ob b ll ii v v ii o ou us s s se ev ve e rr ii tt y y o o ff w w ii n n tt e e rr d da a rr k k .. a a m mo o rr s se e ll o o ff m me ea an n ii n ng gff a a ll ll s s tt h h rr o ou ug gh h a a tt h ho ou ug gh h tt ff u u ll w w ii n nd do ow w ,, h h ii n n tt s s a a tt s so om me e tt h h ii n ng g m mo o rr e e ..
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catalog of certainty tt o om m ll a ag ga as ss se e
w wiin nd ds sw we ep ptt a au uttu um mn n lla atte e a afftte errn no oo on n tth he e lle ea av ve es s lliik ke e m me em mo orriie es s d da an nc ce e a ac crro os ss s tth he e y ya arrd d c cllo ou ud ds s a as s iiff s sk ka attiin ng g g glliid de e a allo on ng g tth he e c clle ea arr b ba ab by y-b bllu ue e s sk ky y tth he e a ap pp plle e ttrre ee e n no ow w b ba arre e h hiid de es s iin n p plla aiin n s siig gh htt tth he e g ga arrd de en n e ex xh ha au us stte ed d ffrro om m e effffo orrtt n na ap ps s tth he e b biirrc ch he es s s sw wa ay y lliik ke e b brro ok ke en n m me ettrro on no om me es s tth he eiirr s sh ha ad do ow ws s d da an nc ce e o on n tth he e s sh he ed d e ex xiittiin ng g tth he e b bu us s c ch hiilld drre en n y ye ellp p a an nd d h ho olllle err tth he e c ca atts s c cu urrll iin n s se ep pa arra atte e c ch ha aiirrs s tth he e s sm ma allll ffiirre e c crra ac ck klle es s s so ou up p s siim mm me errs s o on n tth he e s stto ov ve e s so oo on n d da arrk kn ne es ss s w wiillll b biirrtth h tth he e m mo oo on n tth he e s stta arrs s a an nd d tth he e u un ns se ee en n e ex xp pa an ns siio on n o off u un nk kn no ow wiin ng g..
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in autumn jj u u ll ii e en n h ha a rr m ma an n-e ev va an ns s
ii would would collect collect the the dried-up dried-up leaves, leaves,
clutching clutching them them in in hands hands too too small small to to know know how how to to hold hold gently. gently. rescued rescued from from the the stream stream that that would would carry carry them them away, away, their their red-green-gold red-green-gold glory glory
delighted delighted me, me, more more than than any any new new flower flower clutched clutched in in dusty dusty fingers; fingers;
and and these these woods woods still still have have something something in in them, them,
in in this this dried-up dried-up season season of of a a dried-up dried-up year. year. the the leaves leaves are are darker darker these these days, days, and and the the lake lake is is smaller smaller than than ii ever ever thought. thought. but but still still the the silver silver bark bark
peels peels itself itself off off the the birch birch trees, trees, the the surface surface of of the the pond pond pools pools flat flat as as the the stream stream runs runs to to a a stop. stop.
until until ii grew grew tired tired of of holding holding them, them, stuffing stuffing them them carelessly carelessly into into pockets, pockets, zips zips biting biting my my fingers. fingers. forgetting, forgetting,
ii would would see see them them next next in in spring, spring, dried dried up, up, colourless, colourless, the the threads threads of of their their veins veins broken, broken, a a pocket pocket full full of of leaf leaf flakes. flakes.
there there are are more more sounds sounds than than ever ever here, here, beside beside
the the gloomy gloomy trickle trickle of of water. water. the the leaves leaves underfoot underfoot begin begin to to rot, rot, and and my my feet feet sink sink more more deeply deeply into into the the mud. mud.
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these things i know of fall e e ll ii z za ab be e tt h h b ba a tt e es s
corn corn fields fields once once kept kept in in definite definite rows—made rows—made perfect perfect through through the the skill skill of of a a tractor tractor operator, operator, who who tilled tilled the the soil soil with with sharp sharp blades blades to to make make it it so— so— now now muddled muddled and and muddied muddied by by the the arrival arrival of of the the fall fall rains. rains.
husks husks transition transition with with the the seasons seasons from from kernel-house kernel-house to to sarcophagus, sarcophagus, concealed concealed under under a a layer layer of of lackluster, lackluster, withering withering stalks. stalks.
the the soil soil once once possessed possessed a a softness softness under under bare bare feet, feet, until until it it was was made made a a catch-all catch-all for for the the heads heads of of dead dead dahlia dahlia blooms. blooms. a a muted muted rainbow rainbow of of peach, peach, violet, violet, canary, canary, and and ivory ivory petals petals scatter scatter themselves themselves across across the the ground: ground: botanical botanical confetti confetti beginning beginning their their transition transition to to neutral neutral tones. tones.
the the horse horse chestnut chestnut tree tree has has released released its its spiky spiky fruit. fruit. the the chartreuse chartreuse capsules, capsules, splitting splitting down down their their mid-sections, mid-sections, revealing revealing the the conker conker ready ready to to reunite reunite with with the the safety safety of of earth. earth.
puddles puddles ready ready themselves themselves for for the the company company of of children children in in rain rain boots boots as as the the wind wind howls howls a a haunting haunting song song into into the the autumn autumn evening evening which which lands lands on on the the ear ear of of the the heart-faced heart-faced barn barn owl: owl: a a ghostly ghostly apparition apparition suspended suspended in in mid-air mid-air near near twin twin silos. silos.
a a burnt-orange burnt-orange spider spider has has taken taken up up residence residence on on the the porch. porch. It It spun spun a a web web across across the the kitchen kitchen window window last last night, night, streaked streaked with with glassy glassy dew dew this this morning. morning.
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september m ma an nd dy y m mo oe e p pw w ii n n tt tt u u
and and so so we we hold hold though though the the knots knots in in the the hickory hickory oak oak tell tell us us time time is is crass crass & & rotting. rotting. and and september september is is a a mistress mistress of of sharp sharp suns suns and and winedark winedark songs songs that that sing sing into into the the brazen, brazen, baulking baulking wheat, wheat, our our amber amber wearing wearing thin thin through through the the stalks. stalks.
ii remember remember you you said said september september like like cherries cherries in in your your mouth. mouth. sucking sucking the the sap sap and and spitting spitting the the seeds, seeds, staunch staunch with with the the redness redness staining staining your your lips. lips. you’d you’d knot knot the the stems stems with with your your tongue— tongue— falling falling brown brown and and listless listless from from your your lips. lips. september september is is for for settling settling down: down: like like cardinals cardinals rattling rattling home home to to roost. roost. their their nests nests the the strum strum of of dry dry twig twig & & wet wet grass, grass, and and midnight midnight curls curls they they stole stole from from our our backyard. backyard. as as if if feeding feeding them them wasn’t wasn’t enough, enough, they’d they’d wanted wanted our our heads heads too. too.
ii started started mixing mixing in in the the cherry cherry stems stems you you left left out out on on the the porch. porch. my my hair hair & & knotted knotted fruit, fruit, a a mixture mixture perfect perfect for for a a cardinal’s cardinal’s nest. nest. cherries cherries as as red red as as their their coats. coats. ii thought thought it it was was fitting. fitting. ii thought thought at at least least somewhere, somewhere, something something fit. fit.
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contributors list contributors list ii s ss su ue e ff o ou u rr :: a an n o od de e tt o o a au u tt u um mn n
tt h ho om ma as s
a an nd d rr e ew w
jj u u ll ii e en n m ma an nd dy y
rr ii c ch ha a rr d ds so on n
h ha a rr m ma an n-e ev va an ns s m mo oe e
c ca a rr o o ll
p pe en nh ha a
c ch h rr ii s s tt ii n na a
c c ii u u ff o o
ll a ag ga as ss se e
ll a aw w rr e en nc ce e rr a ac ch he e ll rr o ob be e rr tt ll a au u rr e en nc ce e
b ba a tt e es s
g g rr ii m me es s
jj a am me es s
tt o om m
tt u u
c ca as se ey y
e e ll ii z za ab be e tt h h d de ee e
p pw w ii n n tt
m mo oo o rr e e
tt a an nn ne e rr
m mc cc ca a rr tt h hy y ll e ev vy y-a a tt k k ii n ns so on n
v ve e rr o on n ii c ca a ll a a ii b ba a
jj a a rr b bo oe e
y yo ou us su u ff
2 2
for
wordsmiths, wordsmiths, for
wordsmiths,
storytellers storytellers
and the poetically & the
inclined. poetically
inclined. 2 3
ISSUE FOUR: AN ODE TO AUTUMN
© 2021 POETICALLY MAGAZINE