Saturday, November 3, 2012

Settling Upon November


The artistry of SueAnn.  Used with permission.

Damp yellow leaves
and a hanging gray

settled upon November

with sharp scents of burning wood
and smoke encircling chimneys.

Head down, she trudged ‘home’

rain splattering her jacket
and hiding bright tears.

November, the month

she knew more than leaves
were dying.



Copyright 2012 Jennifer Wagner


85 comments:

Brian Miller said...

dang....that made me shudder deep a bit...more than the leaves were dying...you build the feeling slowly and then its like BAM...nicely played...

Scarlet said...

The ending lines are terrific ~ Good one ~

Daydreamertoo said...

Oh.... I wasn't expecting that last line, now we're left to wonder who is dying, her, herself or, someone she loves and has just been told the news.... Omgoodness, very effective in its intent to make one 'feel' the words.

Anonymous said...

OK so your left line was like a rug beneath me... so who died?!

Loved the read :)

Janet Martin said...

Gorgeous picture. You captured its mood perfectly with your poem! Well done. Yes, that last line, unexpected which makes it so terrific.

Mary said...

OOh, that ending....I think it makes everyone reflect on other deaths they have known or those in their lives who might be facing death.

henry clemmons said...

She knew more than leaves were dying. Excellente. And the line - settled upon November - is classic. A great write and read I truly emjoyed.

Beachanny said...

November - the days of grays in my mind - you capture the cloudy interior here so well.

Anonymous said...

You've captured so much in this moment, senses can be quite acute at times of sorrow... loved the feeling a wonderful write...and read.

RMP said...

that last line carries a lot of weight. quite a powerful piece.

Lisa said...

I felt like I have read a novel. Deep and intriguing.

marousia said...

Gorgeous! You leave so much to the imagination - so much here that is unsaid! This is really intriguing - love the sinister undertones at the end

Tank said...

Who is she and why is she so sad??? Living in melancholia...lol I need to buy you some flowers and build you a cozy fire!

Anonymous said...

Sad and strong. I ended reading the poem thinking of Spring though, so maybe the metaphor contains hope?

Sabio Lantz said...

Ouch -- sad. Short, poignant, powerful writing. Thank you

Dave King said...

Well that leaves an awful lot for us to wonder about... The poem none the worse for that, of course. Quite the reverse. The fascination extends beyond the last line.

Sueann said...

Beautiful poem...thank you for using one of my pics!!
What an honor.
Hugs
SueAnn

Anonymous said...

reads beautifully. Great ending.

rch said...

The end is indeed profound but I keep wondering why home is in quotes, very powerful.

Bing Yap said...

perfect poem for the picture... well done!

Karen said...

The rest of this story...intriguing!

Serena said...

What a powerful ending... wasn't expecting that. I love when that happens!

kaykuala said...

November can be deceiving. It's the end all of life in a year's span. So, what or who else are dying! Nicely Jenny!

Hank

Unknown said...

Wow - so much in your poem! I'm hanging on wanting more details!

Abin Chakraborty said...

poignant close.nicely done.evocative picture as well.

aelfbee said...

Death and tears in November, oh God, I feel my own poem being born. Thanks for the inspiration.

Nilanjana Bose said...

Great impact to the closing line..poignant and beautiful..thanks

Sherry Blue Sky said...

I want more too - this poem made me remember going home from school in the autumn dusk when I was a sad teenager.......the final line really hits home......fantastic writing!

Sam Jamieson said...

Very well written, beautiful. Thank you for sharing.

Lisa Williams said...

So beautiful, I always felt a sadness associated with November and all that we look forward to has perished, and once again face winter. A wonderful depiction!

Cressida de Nova said...

Beautifully expressed sadness.

ScottlB said...

climactic, well done

Sarav said...

November is a month that grays a person, perfect depiction of that heaviness and then that emotional kicker of an ending--well done! :-)

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks Brian! And thanks too for offering the prompt and bringing us the opportunity to use SueAnn's work.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you Heaven.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks for 'feeling' the piece Bren!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you king, glad you enjoyed!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks so much Janet--and SueAnn does great work doesn't she?

my heart's love songs said...

beautifully written and a perfect ending!

Jennifer Wagner said...

I'm glad you think it makes a connection with readers, thanks Mary.

Jennifer Wagner said...

henry- thanks so much for your comment, a lovely compliment!

Jennifer Wagner said...

They are the 'days of gray' to me too...thanks Beachanny.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you very much cat--I so appreciate your complimentary words on the piece.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Glad you found it so, thanks RMP!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you very much Lisa.

Jennifer Wagner said...

marousia- thanks so much for enjoying the 'mystery'...a wonderful compliment, thank you.

Jennifer Wagner said...

You know who she is...and I'll take you up on the flowers and cozy fire!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Glad you brought it around to Spring p-d...after all Spring is always around the corner. Thanks for reading!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks for feeling it Sabio, and commenting too.

Preeti S. said...

The last two lines were the highlight for me. Beautiful writing. Great use of imagery.

Rosemary Nissen-Wade said...

Haunting!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks Dave...glad it carries through! Thanks for reading.

Jennifer Wagner said...

It was an honor to be able to use your work SueAnn! I'm so glad you like the poem that came out of my musing on this beautiful piece. Thanks so much for sharing it, and for visiting me and commenting.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you very much wolf.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Was wondering if anyone picked up on the quotes-- which are a piece to ponder in the write. Glad you came by rch--thanks for your comment!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you very much Bing!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Glad you were intrigued Karen-thanks!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Glad you do Serena!

Unknown said...

Your last line surprises and perfects the piece.

Anonymous said...

Sad and melancholy. A true November poem. We feel it in the gray and in the leaves. Thanks for posting.

Kathy Reed said...

So good I wished you had gone on to tell more...quite the photo for so many different responses...

Jennifer Wagner said...

Yes it can be deceiving! Thank you Hank.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks Robyn-glad it grabbed you!

Jennifer Wagner said...

I love this picture of SueAnn's, really a great piece to write on. Thanks so much Abin.

Jennifer Wagner said...

You're welcome, can't wait to read it :)

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you Nilanjana.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Though sad in essence, I'm glad it was effective and made a connection with you. Thank you so much!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks for reading and for your lovely comment Daisy.

Jennifer Wagner said...

I always feel it to...thank you very much Lisa!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you Cressida.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks Tatius.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you very much Sara :)

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks for enjoying it!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks for reading Rosemary.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks Kim, very much.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Glad you think I captured it...thank you.

Jennifer Wagner said...

hmm...perhaps I will...it is a great photo, isn't it? Thanks for coming by and commenting on it!

Lori Lipsky said...

Lovely. The surprise at the end made me gasp. The photo and words match marvelously.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks Lori, so much!

Wendy Bourke said...

Really exceptional - very delicate, as is all secret hurt. Beautifully and perfectly illustrated. Also, thanks for your kind remarks on my latest "launch".

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you Wendy, and I am looking forward to your new site :)

Brian Miller said...

ah anytime...hope you had a great week as well...popped by to make sure i had not missed something...happy saturday!

Margaret said...

I'm in LOVE with your way with words. Makes me want to go erase everything I've done and start over.... sigh. I've been touring the civil war battlegrounds now that I live in the south.... this reminds me of them.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Wow! You don't know what a compliment that is to me! I am a huge fan of your work. I so admire your style--don't change a thing. Your words have really made my day!

Margaret said...

...and yours mine! :)