Welcome to Poetry Friday!
October is possibly my most favorite month of the year – we’re deep into fall where nature puts on her best dress, the promise of holiday get-togethers hangs in the air, and I get to celebrate many birthdays (including my own!).
So, it’s not surprising that I turned to October when crafting this week’s poem for the Nevermores. Brooke challenged us to write a poem that leans into short vowel sounds. As a teacher, I spent a great deal of time sharing books with students for craft and structure, and In November by Cynthia Rylant and Jill Kastner immediately came to mind as a mentor text. The ideas came first, with some intention as to the sounds of the words I was using. Then came revision, especially with word choice. This exercise stretched me to think of other words to create an image and to attend to the melody I was creating.
In October
In October
a crescent moon winks through undressed willows.
With snips and clips
I ready the garden for winter,
listening to diminished birdsong.
In October
the last lantana blossoms welcome visitors,
pumpkins spill from baskets.
I watch squirrels scurry to gather
winter weather snacks.
In October
low light lingers as shadows shroud the mums,
crickets have finished gossiping.
I dig in the rich soil of summer
to plant the promise of spring.
Draft, RoseCappelli2024
Matt has the round up today at Radio, Rhythm, & Rhyme where he is sharing a number of poetry anthologies to look forward to. Be sure to stop by for lots of poetry goodness.
Thanks for stopping by!
Imagine the Possibilities 
What a fabulous tribute to the Best Month of the Year! “crickets have finished gossiping” is my favorite line, and you remind me that I need to get some bulbs in the ground!
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Some great imagery and wordplay here, Rose, nicely done!
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Dear Rose, I love this! I wonder if it should be “Gardening in October” to distinguish it from other October poems and because I instantly want to share it with my Master Gardener friends! xo
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Great idea, Irene! Thanks so much!
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Rose, I love Cynthia Rylant, too. I think of her as a mentor AUTHOR 🙂
This poem stands out in the ever-deepening beauty of your work. It is lovely…perhaps due to your love of October! Happy Birthday month! Mine’s next week 🙂
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Oh Happy Birthday, Patricia! I appreciate your encouragement.
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I love the book, In November, Rose, and now you’ve written about the loveliest month, October, when my birthday comes, too, and so many beautiful things that you’ve included. The ending makes our goodbyes joyful: “to plant the promise of spring.”
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Hooray for October birthdays!
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Beautiful poem, Rose. May be my favorite of yours thus far! I’m a big Rylant fan too, so must reread In November again.
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Thanks, Jama.
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October is my favorite fall month, and I vote for April in spring. I love how you structured this poem with anaphora (I was just teaching this element today). That first line is my favorite, “a crescent moon winks through undressed willows.” Your poem is its own mentor text. Thanks.
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This poem is delicious with its short vowel sounds…and sensory experience. Those shrouded mums…I want to sit with them a while with my coffee and just enjoy the quiet. Beautiful.
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“low light lingers as shadows shroud the mums” – yum! Your adoration for October comes singingly through, Rose.
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Lovely ending, Rose! I am a huge fan of October, too. The weather has been gorgeous. Hope you have a joyful birthday!
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Rose, your poem let me sink into Autumn. In stanza 1 you wrote: “listening to diminished birdsong” and I paused to remember that I thought of that a few days ago. I was so happy when I heard at least one bird calling out. Stanza 2 stated “gather winter weather snacks”. I loved that alliteration and the thought. In the last stanza, I agree with others, “to plant the promise of spring” is beautifully presented”.
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