It’s on our lips,
we’re whispering the
change of time
while the ear tips of
trees
are burning orange.
Seven and I
pick and eat
blackberries,
just a few, though—
as the bulk have not
yet turned
from green,
to red,
to purplish-black.
Not far away
charcoal is
smoldering
and the scent of
grilling hot dogs
keeps summer alive—
we pause,
as much to watch
a rabbit watching us
and then bounce away,
as to hold on
to the end
and the beginning.
© 2014 Jennifer Wagner
“Seven” refers to my
seven-year-old. There is a trail near
our house we often walk on where he found a beautiful dead dragonfly and where
a giant mushroom grows sideways out of the trunk of a fallen tree, therefore, the
title. Happy changing of seasons!
For OLN at dVerse
You have drawn this transitional season's end/beginning beautifully, Jennifer, with lovely evocative images and sensory reminiscences that are written so well - you bring the physical world into the mind's realm and your readers are THERE, in that place.
ReplyDeleteThanks for making me smile.... ;) what a wonderful memory, great job bring it to life. I miss you and our "7"
ReplyDeleteit seems to go so fast...and faster the older that we get....
ReplyDeleteour grape arbor is passing on...no more treats to picka nd eat off the vine...maybe we will have to grill out today and cling just a bit
ourselves....
ah the changing of seasons...they never seem to last as long as we'd like...the blackberries and hot dogs sound quite tasty. a lovely little write; I enjoyed escaping into.
ReplyDeleteI like the swift capture of the changing seasons ~ Autumn is upon us now and I am sad to leave summer scent of grilling meat ~ Good one Jennifer ~
ReplyDeleteAh yes, the changing of the seasons, the picking of raspberries, and the grilling. All such good memories. Sad for me to think about how quickly this summer is passing. Gotta get a few more grilling times in before winter. Smiles.
ReplyDeletesee, the Trek nerd in me was thinking 7 of 9, but I was trying to envision you two on a picnic :) ~
ReplyDeletehaha...funny M...that will have to wait for another poem ;)
Deletewhat a beautiful trail... when we're that little all seasons are fun! summer or winter does not matter ... there is always smoething new to see feel and learn!!
ReplyDeleteThe blackberries reminded me of late august with my aunt and cousins when I was a child. Lovely images to evoke the subtle changing of seasons, Jennifer.
ReplyDeleteoh nice... love the whole atmosphere in this...the blackberries...the rabbit, dragonfly...all the things to discover... thanks for sharing your walk with us
ReplyDeleteYou painted a clear image of your time, the blackberries the time with your seven year old. Beautifully done Jennifer.
ReplyDeleteI had just re-read Robert Hass' poem Meditations at Lagunitas - so your blackberries leapt from your poem as a companion to his - loved the intimate scene with seven and the quiet change of season - beautiful, Jennifer
ReplyDeleteYes, it's almost like you had written this to a prompt - that was not a prompt. This time of an end - and a beginning,,, :-) in so few words you capture that perfect feeling of transition
ReplyDeletelife is full of amazement, especially to a seven year old - it's a gift they bring to us.
ReplyDeleteI love this: "the ear tips of trees
ReplyDeleteare burning orange"
Oh ... Jennifer ... such a delight, this one ... loved the minute details you gave here ....
ReplyDeleteone passes away to make room for another...so beautifully captivated in your lines with wonderful images....
ReplyDeleteYes everything is in change and orange is happening fast. Harvest changes of berries and woods become silent.
ReplyDeleteJennifer, I so enjoy these glimpses you share in verse. Truly the words you choose leave me seeing clearly the beauty and charm of the life you live.
ReplyDeleteCatches the certain fin-de-siecle of the season nicely; "the ear tips of trees/are burning orange" is just a wonderful phrase.
ReplyDeleteJennifer, you have really captured the nostalgia most feel as summer draws near to its end. I have always felt a bit sad this time of year and try to do whatever will make it linger a bit longer. Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteLove the opening and … all of it! Such vivid details. Also, multilayered.
ReplyDeleteabsolutely perfect - just a heart grabbing poem for me.
ReplyDelete