No U-turns

On the road today, we are traveling to meet old friends. This is our first vacation since Covid started. As we traveled North to Ohio, the mountains in West Virginia were gorgeous.  but when we crossed the Ohio River, the clouds were spectacular. At my age, getting together with old friends is so important. Better to do it now rather than waiting for a memorial service in the future.

Life moves on

Seasons keep changing

No U-turns

Photos: Dwight L. Roth

Today at d’Verse, guest host Xenia Tran asked us to write a Haibun about a special September moment. Today was a gorgeous Fall Day to be traveling.

Join us at: https://dversepoets.com

Nature’s Spice

The mighty oak spreads high overhead against the sky

Loaded with thousands of acorns turning from hues of basil

to crushed chili pepper topped with shades of anise and coriander.

Leaves turn to cinnamon and paprika as they fall to the ground

to be crushed in a mortar of earth and ground with pestle of feet

bringing richness and spice, nature’s seasoning, to the soil below.

Acorns carpet bomb overwhelming the ground like falling peppercorns

Seeds for the future guaranteeing new growth

Providing food for squirrels and deer throughout the cold winter.

Some put down roots for the future of us all.

Photos: Dwight L. Roth

Today at d’Verse, Merril asked us to spice up our poems today by choosing three or more of the spices from a list she gave us. She said it could be related to cooking or how ever we wished to use them. I decided to use the metaphorically in nature.

Join us at: https://dversepoets.com

Burning Fall

There was a time in the fall of the year when leaves were raked into a ditch and burned. The rising smoke snaked its way through the neighborhood burning eyes for some and tickling nostrils. For me, the sweet smell of burning leaves is synonymous with Fall.

Folks living in the country burned their leaves year after year. Sometimes those leaf piles burned into the evening shadows. They would take a ghostly stance and watch with a rake in hand as the pile got smaller and smaller. In time everything turned to ash. No one gave a thought about polluting the air. The evening wind carried the smoke away blending it into the other scents of Fall. It mixed with the smell of oak wood burning in woodstoves throughout the neighborhood.

Smoke from burning leaves

Mingles with the cool night air

Sweet smell of Autumn

***

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Today at d’Verse, guest host Jo asked us to write a poem of scents. They are those smells around us that tickle our senses and trigger memories and emotions. I chose to write about memories of fall leaf burning.

Join us at: https://dversepoets.com

Frozen Reflections (haiku)

Frost nips tall grasses

Reflections freeze on the Lake

Reality twists

Today at d’Verse Sarah asked us to revisit Faye Collins’ wonderful art. I chose Grasses at Ennerdale Water! I love the tall grasses and leaves along the pond. I don’t know exactly what season this is set in, so I chose to make it a frosty interpretation! It looks like it could be late Fall from the reflections.

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Lost River Gold

Today. a friend of mine posted these beautiful fall photos on his Facebook page. They were so beautiful I asked him if I could share them on my blog. He generously agreed. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have, along with the Haiku I wrote.

Lost River turns gold

Fall paintbrush dances on trees

Midas touch soon gone

Oaks and Maples shine

Wrapping their arms around me

Breathe deeply and smile

Photos: Thanks to Gary Smucker

A Time to Bloom

After writing this Haiku, I thought about this time of Covid and how many stepped up to serve and help others even at risk of their own lives. The front line workers shone brightly while all around many were dying every day. Thank you to all who stood in the gap during this challenging time.

Fall flowers blooming

Each one shines in its own time

While all about dies

*

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Turning Orange

Orange pyracantha 

berries dancing full on bush

Deer runs up gas line

*

Falling leaves float down gently 

Can’t wait for slow coming frost

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Last Butterfly – (haiku)

Fall butterfly finds

last of zinnia nectar

Frost is close at hand

.*

Photo; Dwight L. Roth

Plein Air

I enjoy trying different things with my painting. I have not painted since April due to the summer heat. Now that cooler weather is here, I thought I would  try a plein air painting. Plien air is a French term that simply means outdoors. I decided to paint the flowers blooming in the wooded area just beyond my back yard. By the time I finished the flowers had disappeared.

Plein air painting 

Yellow wild flowers blooming

My Shangri-la

Painting; Dwight L. Roth

To Be a Leaf…

Oh… to be a leaf, t’would be a delight

High in a tree on a warm summer’s night

Poking my head out the door

Warm seduction of spring calls me fore

Coming out half dressed in the morning light

A red bathing beauty all shiny and bright

Stretching extending my fingers unfurl

Semi-frosty nights will nip at the curl

Turning green without envy my hands open wide

No jealousy here I’m filled with pride

Ever expanding to the size of a hand

Not to be shaken by woman or man

Blown in the wind by breeze and ‘cane

Hands lifted in praise then baptized by rain

Waving high over lovers’   joy without end

Old folks and children consider me their friend

Enduring the heat of hot summer’s blast

Knowing all too soon it will be past

Blushing with color… yellow, orange, and red

My crowning glory before I land with the dead

Photographed by families, travelers, and friends

A model’s envy we all join hands

Waving our boughs and then we’re gone

Floating to the earth but I’m not alone

Lying with friends we await our fate

Raked in piles while the children wait

Jumping and squealing they all roll and tumble

All in a pile as big brothers grumble

Bagged and stacked on the curb for recycling

Back to the garden it’s not really frightening.

Or perhaps simply falling staying were we alight

Putting roots to bed for the long winter’s night

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

A rerun for Fall!