Taste of Autumn

”When you have wine, you have love.”


Original digital surreal art: “Love On the Vine” by: rob kistner © 8/31/23

 
Quietly
in this golden gloaming
enwrapped in a freshening chill
of dimming twilight
bountiful september
tumbles towards the equinox
a sacred period of change

Pacific Northwest Autumn

the holding warmth of sunlight
invigorates the coming bounty

a joyful time of anticipation
nature awaiting the change

the promised recovery and renewal
when the hand of rebirth
will sweep across the valleys
and up the mountain sides

but not just yet

flowering plants
are dropping petals

grasses gone late-summer golden
anticipate the approaching
nurturing rains of winter

mighty evergreens pause
deciduous trees burst forth
in equinoctial splendor

soon leaves will shed
all go dormant to rest

vast Northwest forests
enter a period of rejuvenation

it’s this realm in full glory

lush vineyards and berry thickets
roam the fertile rolling hills
heavy with grape and berry
ready for the bountiful harvest


Original digital surreal art: “Bounty’s Manor”
by: rob kistner © 8/31/23

wine country comes alive

apples, peaches and pears
hang full and heavy
laden with the final fruits
of seasonal plenty

orchard picking begins

wild nature exhales deeply
in this final moment
of deep calm

soon
the bustle and flux
of engorged autumn

water levels
having dropped considerably
river and stream
feel new life

autumn rains
replenish
flow and current

enlivened salmon
in autumnal runs upstream
begin their spawn

the cycle of life turns

trout and other species
revivified
as waters rise and cool

bear-deer-cougar-elk-coyote
pronghorn antelope-big horn sheep
eagle-hawk-and-osprey

the region’s plentiful wildlife
begin preparations for change

unique pre-winter rituals

warm september relaxes
preparing the step-through

autumn’s portal

this realm
begins to cool
slowly nudged
towards winter’s peace

regenerative calm
soon will lay
upon this lush land

season of sky-waters
soon arrives
quenching nature’s thirst
rejuvenating her energies
regathering strength

soon
all-consuming quiet
absolute stillness

from this deep silence
an imperceptible murmur
a breathless whisper
a hushed prayer

gratitude
for the harvest’s bounty
and a humble petition

return the light
bring blessings
fruitful new life
to this soon quiet land
at rest in time’s hand


Original digital surreal art: “Master’s Hands”
by: rob kistner © 8/31/23

S ummer takes its leave
autumn steps boldly forward
September watches

*
rob kistner © 8/23/23
Poetry at: dVerse

 

22 thoughts on “Taste of Autumn”

  1. Wonderfully composed, my friend. I am sad that summer is slipping away. I can see the change in the trees and flowers the transformation is once again happening. I am impressed with your digital artwork. I am planning to write about one of them and give you credit of course. There is a story waiting to be told.

  2. bear-deer-cougar-elk-coyote
    big horn sheep-pronghorn antelope
    hawk-osprey-and eagle

    the region’s plentiful wildlife
    begin preparations for change

    Wow, wow, wow, WOW!

    Much love,
    David

  3. Your poem tasted so much of autumn, Rob I wanted to nibble on it! There is indeed a ‘freshening chill’ these days and even here we have a bountiful harvest. I love the sound of ‘the bustle and flux / of engorged autumn’ and the feeling of ‘warm september relaxes / preparing the step-through’. Yes, I can see through autumn’s portal, but I’m not ready to step through just yet.

    1. But this too shall pass. Might heart is with my family, and with the natural world — the rest of it I keep at arms length, and a short drive into PacNW wilderness enlivens my failing heart… and I know my Kathy is healing — so there is still sweetness in my world.

  4. The autumn change must be so spectacular in this part of the world, I think it would frighten me. Unless your winters aren’t cold and snowy. I think I prefer our slow slipping into a not very cold, not very long winter where the vegetation doesn’t die back altogether, and the new buds appear on the trees as soon as the old leaves fall. Reassuring 🙂

    1. Our winters are rain, snow is seldom at sea level. Up in the mountains deep winter snow. It seldom gets terribly cold, and the summers seldom get terribly hot — virtually little to no humidity. This is spectacular part of the world because there is some seasonal variety, just not extreme.

  5. A beautiful tribute to the end of summer and coming of autumn. Your forests must be magnificent, and your love of nature shines through. On my walk this morning, I noticed a few trees with leaves starting to turn, but the big, old oak in our backyard still looks green.

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