poetry friday roundup is here!

~ jama

Welcome to Poetry Friday at Alphabet Soup!

Please help yourself to a mug of warm cider and an apple cider donut. Since things are tough these days, better take two. 🙂

While many of us consider fall our favorite season — we certainly love the gorgeous leaf color, the cooler temperatures and deep blue skies — there is always that shade of melancholy, a keener awareness of passing time.

As trees take their final bow in rustic costume, we become more appreciative of their transient beauty and painfully aware of our own mortality.

Recently I stumbled upon this poignant poem by Michigan poet David James. I think he gets it just right.

*

“Apple Orchard” by Audra Ziegal
FALLING
by David James

I've wheelbarrowed over a thousand
apples behind the cedars
for compost.
Hundreds are still left stranded 
in the branches, dropping with each burst
of wind. Every year's a blur,
and my heart marks another tally off 
inside my chest wall. This is the year
of my first grandson, who purrs
asleep in my arms, who looks through me
with his dark eyes. I touch his soft
cheeks and his little fists shoot out
as if to catch himself.
We're all falling into the great trough,
I want to say but don't.

I can't imagine his world without
imagining the end of mine.
Who will sit in this lovely yard
and write poems? There's no doubt
someone will, someone from the dying planet
who will look over at the pines
and remember his past and smile.
The wind will blow apples
down, the autumn sun will shine,
and he'll hear the jay calling
for no reason other than to file
a complaint that the bird bath
is dry as a bone.
In the end, we all bow our heads in exile,
and prepare, in our own ways, for the fall.

~ from Michigan Poet, November 2012
“Autumn Bluejay” by Gina Signore

*

Now, please leave your links with the dashing Mr. Linky below. I’m looking forward to reading all your wonderful poems, reviews, and musings this week!

Thanks so much for joining us. Please stay safe, be well, don’t forget to vote, and have a nice weekend. 🙂

ONE MORE FOR THE ROAD!

*Copyright © 2020 Jama Rattigan of Jama’s Alphabet Soup. All rights reserved.

38 thoughts on “poetry friday roundup is here!”

  1. Such a good poem! Who, indeed, will sit in this lovely yard and write poems? Thanks for hosting! It’s wonderful, as always! Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com

    Liked by 2 people

  2. Oh, Jama ~ It’s been eons since I last visited your blog. I’m thrilled to be reminded that you’re here and as a bright a light as I remember you. How do people read everything there is to read? How do they stay afloat? I want YOU and YOUR blog in my boat while I’m paddling through these times, that’s for sure.

    And even though I live in Southern California and fall’s changes are more subtle than where you are,my heart vibrates with your lines: “there is always that shade of melancholy, a keener awareness of passing time.”

    And the David James poem–wow! These are just a few words I loved:

    “my heart marks another tally off/ inside my chest wall”

    Thank you for holding this positive, luminous spot in the world for us.
    ❤
    April

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Apple cider donuts are my *favorite.* They make me want to sit in the yard and write poems. I especially like the baby’s fists and the jay’s complaints. Thanks for hosting!!

    Liked by 2 people

  6. Such a remarkable poem, Jama, and yes, fall makes us think of the end of things that have to come before a new beginning. “Who will sit in this lovely yard and write poem?” And yes, I would love a donut, they look delicious! Thank you for hosting this week.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Yes, I agree with all David James’ poem is so fitting for this time–sensitive with a heavy dose of melancholy, big sigh…Thanks for the two gorgeous fall paintings, yummy donuts–please push one through, and I love the masked pig and doggie. I have a couple masked creatures I created this summer, I may have to send one to you.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. I need to eat dinner! You’ve made me only want apple cider donuts, Jama. And sit outside, which I did yesterday, but today, it’s in the thirties. The cold arrived, but it’s lovely to be cozy and dream of those apples in quite a few ways. Thanks for hosting!

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Beautiful poem… “I can’t imagine his world without imagining the end of mine.” So true. Fall was Mom’s favorite season. Chuseok, the leaves, falls of yore on Sogha Mountain.

    Oh my, those donuts look delicious… I could devour a baker’s dozen! Did you make them?

    Liked by 1 person

  12. Jama, firstly thank you for hosting. The theme of seasons are a constant attraction for poets it would seem. We write about the weather constantly even though it doesn’t change anything. From Keats to David James, poets find something quite special in seasonal experiences. I really enjoyed reading the poem you selected. It is evocative and plaintive for me as the reader. I also enjoyed the graphics you have tastefully presented in this post. ‘Who will sit in this lovely yard and write poems?’ – indeed.

    Liked by 1 person

  13. Pingback: Poetry Friday: “I’m Feeling Blue, Too!” interview/review – Radio, Rhythm & Rhyme

  16. Thank you for hosting, Jama. You’ve set a wonderful seasonal tone with your choice of food, beverage, and poem. The poignancy of the poem seems especially fitting for this particular autumn when the jays’ complaints are the least of our concerns. Maybe I can borrow someone else’s grandchild for a day. I think that would definitely help.

    Like

  17. Pingback: Poetry Friday: “Song” – Reading to the Core

  18. It’s much too late for a doughnut, but maybe I’ll indulge in the morning! Thank you for hosting this week, Jama. This bittersweet poem is full of so many lovely images I can’t choose a favorite. I love that fierce looking bluejay, too.

    Like

  19. Mmm, thank you for the treats, Jama. Having just celebrated a birthday in the season when “trees take their final bow in rustic costume”, I am keenly aware of my mortality each passing year. (Though I relish the fact that I have LOTS more years to come!) Thank you for hosting and always providing the sustenance for our journeys. 🙂

    Like

  21. Jama, thank you for sharing ‘Falling.’ It is beautiful. Theses lines really got me
    “I can’t imagine his world without
    imagining the end of mine.
    Who will sit in this lovely yard
    and write poems? ”

    I so appreciate your tremendous efforts to collect poems and art and fine food here. Thank you for sharing such joy in our world.

    Like

  25. Jama, thank you for an inviting post this fall to share the beauty of autumn and introducing a poem that rings of grandma love. Thanks for the sweet treat of cider and donuts. Yummy delight! I am wondering if I could add your thought, “While many of us consider fall our favorite season — we certainly love the gorgeous leaf color, the cooler temperatures and deep blue skies — there is always that shade of melancholy, a keener awareness of passing time.” to my Abundant Autumn Gallery paired with the “Apple Orchard” artwork. I would also like to add your opening cider and donuts photo? Love these!

    Like

    1. Feel free to add whatever you like to your Abundant Autumn Gallery, Carol. 🙂 I look forward to viewing it when it’s ready.

      Like

  26. Oh the “hitting home” of that poem……last fall I held my 2 month old grandson…..and I wonder and worry and rejoice all rolled into one moment of love. Your post as always is gorgeous and profound and informative. It is a glorious Friday when I can sit and hit the blogosphere and have time to comment, too. Thank you, thank you. Oh and those apple cider donuts. Hard for me these days because I am avoiding sugar/carbs…..but maybe I can cheat a little and think of you!! So appreciative of all the golden sparkle that Poetry Friday bloggers bring to my life.
    Janet Clare F.

    Like

  28. This is an absolutely beautiful poem that I can connect to so well! We have an apple orchard, we compost, we live on a beautiful piece of property! Yet to have grandchildren but I can relate to all of this man’s feelings! And, to think it was written in 2012! I wonder what he would say now? Thank you for sharing the poem and for hosting this Friday!

    Like

  29. Lovely poem. That Autumn Bluejay is beautiful! So happy to be back in New England for my very favorite season!!!

    Like

  30. Pingback: Running on the hamster wheel and other poems - Soul Blossom Living

  31. What a lovely post. That poem is so lovely and melancholy. It captures my mood perfectly today.
    And the art is lovely, as usual–both the apple orchard and the bluejay.
    And I’m assuming the donuts are gluten-free so I can imagine eating one. One of my favorite fall activities, when my daughters were young, was to go to the apple orchard, pick apples, and eat cider donuts and apple cider.
    Thanks for hosting today, too!

    Like

  32. What a gorgeous, moving combination of poetry and poems you offer up today, Jama! I’m not participating this week but couldn’t resist peeking to see what goodies were on offer with your hostessing. Thanks for serving such rich and layered fare along with your tasty cider donuts. Delicious!

    Like

  33. Jama, I just don’t know how you keep doing it, offering such a glorious weekly smorgasbord of images and poetic artistry. Whimsical, wonderful, utterly breathtaking every time.

    “As trees take their final bow in rustic costume, we become more appreciative of their transient beauty and painfully aware of our own mortality” – so so true, and so beautifully rendered.

    I am always happy I’ve stopped by here to sample everything you offer – I do take it with me. Oh, and that plate in the last photo … my Grannie had that same set of dishes. Thank you for spreading the love.

    Like

Comments are closed.