Happy Poetry Friday!
The fall colors we’ve had in Chicago have been spectacular! I walked by this tree (above) a few days ago and was so taken by it, I don’t know why I didn’t take it’s picture then… I walked over to capture it and it’s not quite as spectacular but it still has so many hues within one tree, and it inspired my poem.
Halloween eve
sat dressed in her
finery, fire-orange
golden-ambers
crimson-cherry-lake
pumpkin-poised,
each tree painted
harmoniously
glittered their
complements.
Air stirred
with stillness
and just
an occasional
flutter,
calm now—
But, what
lies ahead
down this
perilous
vote-path…
What semblance
of balance
will remain
or fall
with each
falling leaf.
Nature’s prayer—
Earth’s crying
“come together,
hear my cries
hear each other—
Listen for
falling leaves,
tingling
wind chimes,
other voices
listen—
Be Human—
Listen for
Humanity.”
© 2022 Michelle Kogan draft
fall’s last heavenly
blue, reminding you
cast your ballot blue!
© 2022 Michelle Kogan draft
VOTE • VOTE • VOTE • VOTE • VOTE • VOTE • VOTE • VOTE • VOTE!
Heidi Mordhorst at her lyrical and environmentally info-packed blog My Juicy Little Universe is our host for this week’s Poetry Friday Roundup, thanks Heide!
Michelle Kogan Illustration, Painting, & Writing 
What a lovely pairing of fall poems. All those colors and how they beg us to listen to nature’s call for peace.
Michelle, you and I have the same “trouble”–whatever it is we’re seeing, it reminds us somehow of the whole, of the need to act. I ADORE that first stanza, every single word of it.
Nature’s prayer…lovely! And I’m with Heidi on that first stanza. Gorgeous language and images! xo
Our fall has been amazing, too, Michelle. I love that you captured our uneasy times as the tree moved through its stages, too. And that “heavenly blue” makes me so full of hope for “coming together”. Thank you!
Yes, BE HUMAN. Tragic how many have forgotten what that truly means. Chiming in with the others on the specialness of that first stanza. Crackling language! Thanks for the gorgeous foliage photos too. 🙂
Ah, yes! Listen for humanity! That is a wonderful line, Michelle. So apropos for our coming week. Thank you for your beautiful poem that speaks of so much more than a colorful tree.
As the leaves fall, things shift and change. May we find our balance and ever remember to human. Lovely, Michelle.
Michelle, the touch of autumn is alive in your poem as is your call to action, Be Human—
Listen for
Humanity
Vote blue-Yes indeed!
Thanks for your magical and inspiring words.
All those gorgeous, warm, falling fall colors leading us to blue – let’s hope! It’s a different kind of year this year for sure. Love the image of Halloween eve dressed in finery. Thanks for all!
Oh that morning glory! I am on pins and needles about the vote. My husband and I have done our part. Now we wait and hope.
Such a poignant plea. Like Jone says, do your part, then hope and wait. And hope some more…
“nature’s prayer…be human…come together…listen” such beautiful words in this poem. Thank you. I have VOTED!
So much here! Wordwise, I just love ” fire-orange
golden-ambers
crimson-cherry-lake
pumpkin-poised, ” – gorgeous!
Thank you for sharing your lovely poem and photo! I especially love the phrase “pumpkin-poised” … how perfect! 🙂