Friday, August 29, 2014

On Dead Dragonfly and Giant Mushroom Trail



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

24 comments:

Wendy Bourke said...

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.

Tank said...

Thanks for making me smile.... ;) what a wonderful memory, great job bring it to life. I miss you and our "7"

Brian Miller said...

it seems to go so fast...and faster the older that we get....
our 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....

RMP said...

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.

Scarlet said...

I 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 ~

Mary said...

Ah 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.

Anonymous said...

see, the Trek nerd in me was thinking 7 of 9, but I was trying to envision you two on a picnic :) ~

Unknown said...

what 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!!

Gabriella said...

The 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.

Claudia said...

oh nice... love the whole atmosphere in this...the blackberries...the rabbit, dragonfly...all the things to discover... thanks for sharing your walk with us

Michael said...

You painted a clear image of your time, the blackberries the time with your seven year old. Beautifully done Jennifer.

Anonymous said...

I 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

brudberg said...

Yes, 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

Anonymous said...

life is full of amazement, especially to a seven year old - it's a gift they bring to us.

Anonymous said...

I love this: "the ear tips of trees
are burning orange"

Sadia Khan said...

Oh ... Jennifer ... such a delight, this one ... loved the minute details you gave here ....

Sumana Roy said...

one passes away to make room for another...so beautifully captivated in your lines with wonderful images....

Jennifer Wagner said...

haha...funny M...that will have to wait for another poem ;)

Anonymous said...

Yes everything is in change and orange is happening fast. Harvest changes of berries and woods become silent.

enthusiastically, dawn said...

Jennifer, 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.

Anonymous said...

Catches the certain fin-de-siecle of the season nicely; "the ear tips of trees/are burning orange" is just a wonderful phrase.

Lisa A. Williams said...

Jennifer, 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!

janetld said...

Love the opening and … all of it! Such vivid details. Also, multilayered.

Margaret said...

absolutely perfect - just a heart grabbing poem for me.