Where did September go? First, the light changed. Then the gales and ,at last, rain. The leaves had already begun to change with the longboat summer, but now they are beginning to fall , the days are getting shorter, the harvest is well gaathered in and new cultivated soil in the fields are attracting gulls.

Our group walk this morning in the Lincolnshire Wolds, about 20 miles away was drizzly (so no pictures) but it is one you can do any time of year and always see it in a different way. And it was good to have a pub lunch - something that is getting harder to do as so many of our favourite places have closed.

Autumn rivals spring as the favourite season for poets, especially for those of us who are getting older. My first one this month picks up on this - it was written some time ago but the words still ring true to me. Hope you enjoy it

If you would like to read more, please go to the poetry section.

Autumn Leaves

Late October. Long drawn summer subsides

Into the grey shadow of north east clouds

Time turns back to position before spring

Long hours of evening dark before the night.

Leaves still blaze: faded green to red and gold

Then pale and blotch and dry and curl and then

Reluctantly relinquish grip and spiral

Down to cool and hardening ground below

Where for a time they rustle, shift before

Inevitable incorporation into earth.

And I, in the October of my life

Ask if the green hope that once showed in spring

And grew into the semblance of maturity

Has dulled with usage in the passing years

But may still turn in autumn’s final flare

To russet, gold before the winter comes

Bring final colour to the shortening days

Before grip, prised loose from anchoring branch

Gives fluttering graceful fall to lie awhile

Perhaps give pleasure to small scuffling feet.

Or has autumn’s glory too soon faded

Slipping soft, soundless to the sodden soil

Colour, form texture lost till it becomes

Litter that clogs the winter woodland floor

Unmarked amongst ten million more

Whose falling shows the bare boned fractal frame

Trunk, branches ,twigs that held them all in place

Deep roots in time, slow built by passing years

But given life by long forgotten leaves

That unfolding loved, gave life then fading died.

October 2016

Do get in touch if you have any comments or ideas

I’d love to hear from you about my poetry journey!