Here it begins, my seasonal agenda,
just for myself, unknown to most of you.
It has the constancy and repetition of devout
ritual; it’s a descent from dire peak to safe plateau.
I desist from drops and medication as soon as the warm
fades, and pack away compression stockings – it’s Autumn!
Form: a ‘broken acrostic,’ with the letters of the acrostic word (the true title of the poem) appearing at ends, not beginnings of lines.
For Friday Writings #119: Strange Springs at Poets and Storytellers United, Magaly invites us to write on strange Spring rituals. But it’s Autumn in Australia, and I’m currently most interested in my own personal, very welcome ways of marking the change of season. (Actually I can’t do either just yet, still too early – but soon!)
For me, it's screens up and screens down and happens in a blip of time. I still have a hard time thinking of the flip of July as winter and March as fall.
ReplyDeleteHa ha, we don't even call it fall. Why would we? Most of our trees are evergreens; those which have leaves that turn colour and fall are usually imported, not natives.
DeleteYes indeed, autumn is often a great relief from the overly warm summers that so many of us are experiencing around the world nowadays.
ReplyDeleteIt's always been my favourite season; just a little more so nowadays.
DeleteYes, everything changes with the seasons and that includes health. Falling leaves caught in the days of life.
ReplyDeleteOh, how beautifully said, Alan!
DeleteAutumn is a delicious time of the year. When I was young, not affected by chemo, and when menopause was something that happened to other people, summer was my favorite time of year. Now, I look forward to autumn--the cool, the balance... Spring, for me, is a slightly bloom(ier) kissing cousin of autumn.
ReplyDeleteLOVE this variation to the form and can't wait to try it.
Yes, that's very much how I too see Autumn and Spring. But Autumn has always been my very favourite season.
DeleteP.S. I'm extremely jealous of your seasonal wearing of compression garments.
ReplyDeleteIt's rather ironic, though, that I need them most in the heat of Summer, when I'd rather go bare-legged, and not in Winter when extra covering is useful.
DeleteSo much is tied to the weather - we have different seasons: April brings "mango season" (in the peak of summer) and then in June comes the monsoon. So it's lots of eating and then lots of complaining :) :) I do want to travel in Autumn or winter someplace though- see some colour and snow!! Sigh!!
ReplyDeleteOur seasons have different details in different parts of Australia. Where I live now, Summer is also full of mangoes – one of my favourite fruits. When I lived in the southern states, they were an exotic luxury.
DeleteImagine a life without mangoes...Shudder:)Autumn and winter seem to go on forever although can't complain I have not worn an overcoat in years.... Rall
ReplyDeleteYes, mangoes are one of the great blessings oif being alive! I haven't worn an overcoat in tears either but even here in the sub-tropics, I do sometimes resort to jackets, ponchos, shawls and hoodies. (I have an abnormal sensitivity to the slightest hint of cold.)
DeleteAutumn is a relief now matter what part of the calendar it appears. Here in South Texas, our Autumn is very short and comes late if it comes at all.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't figure out the order of your "broken acrostic", as finding words beginning or ending with A U T U M N were hidden from me? Am I dense? I like to write acrostics and have written variations but not a 'broken' one. I'll study up.
..
The word is made by the final letter of each line, taken in turn, spelling 'autumn' – and I made those letters purple so it would be a little more apparent.
DeleteI'm just beginning to not hate winter but like you Autumn is my favorite season with spring running a close second.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if you are hating winter less because global warming is more?
DeleteAutumn is my favorite season, though we are now trying to head into Spring.
ReplyDeleteSpring is my second-favourite.
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