September 1, 2011

The Dark Season Rolls Over

Autumn dreamed of browning the tall grass and yellowing the leaves, cooling the stream waters and turning loose the ghosts from the ground, killing the flowers and shortening the days.

Dawn and Dusk served the seasons, and Autumn released the Halloween demons through more darkness.

Autumn sent life scurrying underground and the spirits spilling over the land. Autumn opened the underworld as well as the darkness.

Autumn’s touch meant death, but he strung the paper jewels together, lit the hills on fire and toasted the vines. He skimmed the pink sky and frosted the mornings. 

Autumn braided the fine branches of the tree of life.

Autumn made beautiful things, and only Summer saw this. Summer enjoyed Autumn's love for seeing this.

Every year Autumn's greatest work of art was killing his love for Summer into all the fall colors.

Autumn wanted to cover Summer’s meadow in maple leaves and breathe on the back of her flowered ear. 

Autumn rolled over and dreamt of late Summer.


This is the tenth part of The Seasons. Here's the beginning.

47 comments:

Lisa said...

I am still not over the elegance of Open.

Autumn seems suddenly very manly, but still I feel his boyishness and playfulness in the way he rolls over and dreams.

Anonymous said...

I do love autumn.

Kelley said...

I like this line: "Autumn released the Halloween demons through more darkness."

cj Schlottman said...

"Autumn braided the fine branches of the tree of life."

I love that image!

Your work has a feel of gentleness, even when the words are harsh, they often segue into a place of light: "Autumn’s touch meant death, but he strung the paper jewels together, lit the hills on fire and toasted the vines. He skimmed the pink sky and frosted the mornings."

Wonderful

Namaste..........cj

Claudia said...

ed - i fell in love with these lines..

Autumn made beautiful things, and only Summer saw this. Summer enjoyed Autumn's love for seeing this.

and i love these lines so because of the seeing..isn't it like that....? true love sees when others don't see and don't understand...this is deep and wonderful...

Anonymous said...

I hope this doesnt sound trite, but my god this is amazing, you painted autum in such a way that I could feel her desire...BRAVO!

Ed Pilolla said...

lisa, thanks. i think i missed an element in open, but now you have made me feel betta:)

ladyfi, me too. can't wait.

kelley, thank you. i like my autumn cryptic.

cj, thanks. gentle is an intriguing energy i was unaware of. cool:)

claudia, it's fascinating the power and nourishment of self love. when i see someone for what she loves about herself, she loves me for that, and vice versa. it's a reality i am constantly learning.

david, thanks. trite not at all. generous is what the comment is, and i grateful.
:)

Victoria said...

I'm really enjoying this season series, Ed. Especially liked the second to last stanza. Stunning personifications.

Alexandra said...

Oh, when you write this, I believe it.

I...you make these characters live for me.

So beautiful.

Su-sieee! Mac said...

So like a teen, autumn is, as he thinks that he "kills" his love for summer. If I were teaching English lit, I'd use your Seasons series. It would be a blast to hear how different people interpret your words.

My Inner Chick said...

"Autumn rolled over and dreamt of late Summer."
Beautifully sensual, ed. Autumn is male...I am sure of that. He hides inside the tangerine, blood red, & lemon.....but he is only preparing us for our own deaths.
I love your poetry. :)

Ed Pilolla said...

victoria, thank you.

alexandra, thank you.

susan, i originally had dawn and dusk as autumn's slaves. i wouldn't know what to think of my own stuff:)

Ed Pilolla said...

tangerine, blood red and lemon... thank you, kim:)

Pat Hatt said...

Your the seasons posts are always done wonderfully. The amount of feelings you convey through the season playing off of one another is amazing.

"Autumn braided the fine branches of the tree of life."

Loved that line!

Mary said...

This is absolutely wonderful. You have characterized Autumn beautifully!

Laura said...

so beautiful Ed...I adore this whole piece, but this line really wrapped around my heart:
"Autumn braided the fine branches of the tree of life."

Thank you for the well wishes.

Jill said...

Each and every line draws me deeper into Autumn. Beautiful.

Leontien said...

I think i really am going to enjoy your blog!

give me some time to check it out...

Leontien

Heather said...

Oh! So beautiful! I'm a creepy, dark girl by nature and this is right up my alley...I love the imagery you created in my mind...I'm seeing Autumn as Thanatos, scythe and all...oh so lovely. I'll be reading the whole series when I get the kids to bed tonight.

You visited my blog, so I thought I'd return the favor & I'm so glad I did! A real treat...thank you!

forgetmenot said...

Such descriptive words! Certainly paints a picture in one's mind as you read them. Lovely writing. Have a nice weekend. Mickie :)

Ed Pilolla said...

pat, thanks so much. i'm hoping it gets easier but that hasn't been the case:)

mary, thank you.

laura, thank you. i was thinking of saying the fine branches but, as usual, less is more and i'm glad i nixed the qualifier.

jill, thank you.

leontien, thanks for stopping by.

heather, making autumn a dark character was the fun part. i thought i might have overdone it with the ghost then demons then spirit then underground reference but hey, laying it on thick can be fun:)

mickie, thank you.

Madhulika said...

I love autumn and you painted it perfectly..!!
Loved it.. <3 <3 <3
If you ever get a chance then do visit any chinar garden during autumn.. It will make you realize how beautiful autumn can really be with nature at its best..

Anonymous said...

Who else could give us maple leaves on a frosted meadow? Your word pictures take us places. Thank you.

Ed Pilolla said...

madhulika, i'm very glad you like autumn. he's a bit controversial, being a guy and all:) i will look to check out a chinar garden this season and will report back. thanks.

mark, thank you, sir.

Evelyn said...

"Autumn opened the underworld as well as the darkness."
wonderful writing, I'm picturing this happening...

Ed Pilolla said...

thanks for stopping by, evelyn. i wondered if opening the darkness and the underworld was too much, and then i thought if autumn is all about the dark and those that live in the dark, he'd definitely fling open the basement door and grin like a madman:)

Laurie Kolp said...

This whole series has really touched my heart. I especially adore:

Autumn’s touch meant death, but he strung the paper jewels together, lit the hills on fire and toasted the vines. He skimmed the pink sky and frosted the mornings.

Kim@stuffcould.... said...

Autumn sounds like me, the love of Summer! Beautiful description of Autumn...

Doreen said...

You have forced me to believe that I can no longer pretend summer will not yet end...
Thanks for the visit!

Ed Pilolla said...

thanks so much:)

Ms. G said...

This is lovely. Autumn is my favorite time of year.

"but he strung the paper jewels together, lit the hills on fire and toasted the vines. " Perfect!

Scarlet said...

I love summer and autumn. I like your lines here:

Every year Autumn's greatest work of art was killing his love for Summer into all the fall colors.

Autumn wanted to cover Summer’s meadow in maple leaves and breathe on the back of her flowered ear.

Betsy Brock said...

beautiful...I've enjoyed your seaons very much. I think of sleep instead of death, though. :) Now if it would only cool down here in Ohio so it felt like autumn!

Ed Pilolla said...

mom, thanks so much for visiting.

heaven, thank you.

betsy, the nights here in on the coast in so-cal have gotten quite cool, fleece weather. i am not complaining:)

Crazy Life of a Writing Mom said...

Absolute perfection!
My favorite line is:
"Autumn’s touch meant death, but he strung the paper jewels together, lit the hills on fire and toasted the vines."

Wow!
I'm following :0)

Ed Pilolla said...

elisabeth, thanks for the visit and the sugar:)

Stephanie D said...

found your blog via Elisa's. Enjoyed it very much. I'm following as well.
:0)

Ed Pilolla said...

thanks so much, stephanie.

Hilary said...

Oh this is lovely. I am always reluctant to let go of summer.. as if I have a choice. But your poem makes me want to play with autumn just a little bit.

Tracie Nall said...

I love "Autumn wanted to cover Summer’s meadow in maple leaves and breathe on the back of her flowered ear." so much!

What a great visual.

I also love that autumn and summer are having this relationship. The seasons relating to each other is something I've never put much though into before.

Samantha Sotto said...

STUNNING.

"Autumn wanted to cover Summer’s meadow in maple leaves and breathe on the back of her flowered ear."

Loved this line - so intimate and evocative. Bravo! :)

Jayne said...

How lovely! Autumn is a beautiful (handsome?) season but so deadly.

Ed Pilolla said...

hilary, i love late summer and her empty beaches and carnivals.

from tracie, i just stumbled into the idea but i'm watching the colors and visualizing this give-and-take and having fun:)

samantha, thank you.

jayne, autumn is a killer. but by chasing life underground he's saving lives becuz they have to survive what might be a vicious winter ahead. there's no telling.

Geraldine said...

thanks for this unique and beautiful tribute to my favorite season! you've captured it all!

Unknown said...

what a thrill to read your talent.


Funny Bunny Fridays week 2 is open for humor entries right now,

Welcome in,

It is never too late to share a laughter with your peer bloggers.

Keep smiling.
Bless your Tuesday.
xoxox

Alexandra said...

How do you do this?

Write like you're twenty years old, and life hasn't happened to you yet.

how do you do it?

Martin said...

You are blessed with a seductive way of writing : ) Thank you for sharing it.