Some Small Poems for the Autumnal Equinox

Posted on by

autumn haiga 2015

This morning I woke up knowing a change was in the air. With intermitent gusts of wind, my garden feels different. From my porch where I sit writing this, I hear cardinals talking to one another in soft chirpy sounds, not full song. A nuthatch scampers up and down the tree trunks hoping to find a tasty insect for its mid-morning snack. What is clearer though is the background sound–the small insects that hum and buzz in notes I can’t clearly discern. All I hear is a constant high pitched sound–but it is a soft sound, not the commanding songs the cicadas sing. A chickadee now scolds someone, probably my dog who is suddenly interested in wandering in our back woods.

The breeze comes and goes. Wind chimes sing their beautiful songs. Leaves shudder and flow in the wind, then settle down to stillness. A large robin sits in the birdbath drinking in the water, probably for the last time before it makes its long migration down to southern Florida. Now a flock of crows jeers at something, most likely the red-tailed hawk that lives nearby. And since I’ve sat here long enough, a single butterfly sips from the last flowers of the purple buddleiah bush. It is a yellow swallowtail and probably the very last one I will see this year. There have been no others all week. A female cardinal visits the other bird bath. Luckily these beautiful red birds don’t migrate from here. They will stay all winter long, and I will put birdseed out for them each day. 

Autumn has always been my favorite season since I was a little girl. I grew up in the northern climate of Buffalo, New York where the lake winds brought the strong Canadian coolness and fall was often upon us in early September. Not so here down south. Here, North Carolina weather can change in an hour. We can have this first taste of fall and tomorrow might bring back the heat of summer.

Life in the United States changes with this season since children return to school, vacations are pretty much over, and everyone settles in. I find myself cooking soups once again. Last night I made Italian Wedding Soup, a perfectly delicious way to welcome the change in seasons. 

Fall or autumn? I grew up calling it ‘fall’ and with the obvious falling of leaves, that word makes good sense, but the poetic side of me loves the word ‘autumn.’ I love saying the word, hearing it, feeling it on the tongue. Autumn is delicious! And ‘autumnal’ is divine. Who can resist the beauty of this season? Not me.

Here are three other poems–two tanka and one haiku– to welcome this special season and day of the autumnal equinox.

Autumn-leaf-on-a-rock-960x640

daylight
and nighttime
in a slow dance—
tomorrow one
will lead

~

Gold Autumn Leaf

~

autumnal equinox…
the moment when day
matches night

~

leaves_texture4982

~

autumn’s equinox
when time is equal—
if only one day
people
could be like this

~

Red Leaves

16 thoughts on “Some Small Poems for the Autumnal Equinox”

  1. GReatly enjoyed reading your observations of early fall, Mary. From my perch on our 2nd story deck I too love watching the seasons change. Some of my observations match yours, of course, but being a bit farther north in southeastern Ohio, we’re already spotting yellow leaves as summer flowers fade. The days are becoming noticeably shorter, and temps will supposedly drop below fifty degrees a couple of mornings at the end of the week (Or is it early next week?!). After living in Florida for 40 years I’m glad to be back where seasonal change is more pronounced and the heat doesn’t last so long!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  2. Pingback: The Fall of Equality | In The Corner

  3. Mary, I enjoyed reading your post. Your tankas and Haiku are superb, as always. At this time of year, fall is my favorite, until we get to winter which will become my favorite, until we get to spring, until we get to summer. I could be happy living anywhere the seasons change. Who doesn’t love the colors of fall, the softness of snow, the rebirth in spring, and the sun and flowers of summer! I too, grew up using fall as in “in the fall” or or fall weather, but I’ve come to refer to things as autumn leaves, autumn flowers or decorations. It does sound more poetic.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  5. I so love your soul. I have been fighting time, change, and yes fall. I too am giving in to autumn. Sadly today, but with an eye of gratitude it wont be long before the brisk and the dark, and the falling colors of leaves are fully embraced. I savor the last few glints of summer and turn to walk into the fall before me.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a Comment or Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.