tangled
on the pale spires
of the broken flowers
of the lost summer
-Mary Oliver
It’s Poetry Friday!
Right on cue, the weather reminded us that this week marked the beginning of fall. The lines above from “The Snowshoe Hare” by Mary Oliver also reminded me that fall is in the air and inspired these lines. Although I love the word “autumn” (probably a more poetic word), sometimes “fall” just fits.
The Garden in Fall
is filled with fading flowers
bending now toward the earth
remembering summer
remembering sun
ready to sleep in rich black soil
remembering life
Draft, RoseCappelli2026
I also found several of my previously written poems about why fall is a favorite time of year. Here’s the latest version of an older one:
For the Love of Fall
mountain’s quilt of red yellow orange
cool, crisp air kissing cheeks
the smoky scent of a crackling bonfire
everything pumpkin (and pumpkin everything)
warm afternoons, cool evenings
apple picking
football kicking
honking geese
Halloween
that oh-so-close harvest moon
Draft, RoseCappelli2026
Whether autumn or fall, I hope this one is happy, healthy, and spectacular for all of you!
Tricia has the round up today at The Miss Rumphius Effect where she introduces us to the inner confessions of her sometimes-naughty dog. Be sure to stop by for lots of poetry goodness.
What an uplifting post, Rose, and a wonderful tribute to a favorite season! :0) “everything pumpkin (and pumpkin everything)” – that’s the truth. Yay, pumpkin(s)!
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Thanks, Robyn.
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oh I love remembering summer, Rose!
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Great to “see” you on Thursday evening.
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I love the word autumn, Rose, but something about the word fall carries extra meaning because it means more than one thing. I love both these fall poems. I too have more fall poems than I can shake an apple tree branch at! xo
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Thanks, Laura!
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I love how you turn your attention and poetry to nature. These fall/ autumn poems make me ready to embrace it whenever it finally decides to fly south.
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I’m sure fall is winging its way to you.
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What a lovely welcome to the best season of the year. The drop in temps this week certainly signaled the change here in Virginia. Love picturing the “mountain’s quilt.” :)
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Maybe a bit of an early tease, but a reminder that summer is winding down.
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Rose, For the Love of Fall, we use our poetry to revive our hearts with fond rememberences, such as summer flowers in gardens. If you are interested these lines could open thoughts for my new Gallery of Autumn’s Ephemeral Gold.
mountain’s quilt of red yellow orangecool, crisp air kissing cheeks
These lines remind me of Shenandoah National Park at the peak of autumn watching.
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Thanks, Carol. I look for your call for gallery submissions.
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Rose your poem with its skilled use of alliteration and repetition captures autumnal scenes of remembering before we descend into winter. It’s fascinating to note how we poets entertain recurring themes such as seasons. Like you, I really appreciate Autumn with its crisp mornings and mellow afternoon sun.
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Thank you, Alan.
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Thank you for the fall in the garden poem! It’s partly sad to see those stalks blackening…until you remember they are gathering all their energy down below, so that they can bloom for us again! xo
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Both of your poems went straight to my heart! I’m bucking the tide of “end-of-season” garden by planting a rain garden in our intermittent pond/low spot this weekend. (If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em!) I do SO love your list poem! Yes to all things fall!
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The weather here also perfectly matched the astronomical change in season. Suddenly crisp! (I love it.)
Your garden poem is relatable and poignant.
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That mountain’s quilt is my favorite…interesting how the flowers are ready to sleep in the poem above. Yes, there’s something about rest in fall, isn’t there?
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Thanks for these two hearty fall poems Rose, really like the sounds and rhythm in “For the Love of Fall,” I’m ready to slip them under my jacket and take them along with me through the season!
And yes what a delight to meet with you and a few other Poetry Friday peeps in the Georgia Heard workshop, I enjoyed hearing about your poems, all the best with them!
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I know some folks who have lost beloveds recently, Rose, and it strikes me that your “Garden in Fall” is a very apt poem for a memorial service, for comfort. Thank you!
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Thank you, Heidi. Although that wasn’t my original intention, I’m touched that it evokes comfort in a time of grief. I’ll remember that.
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Rose, autumn is here fro sure! I loved this line: “cool, crisp air kissing cheeks”
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Living in Texas, the fall is still a distant wish, but I love this welcome reminder of what’s to come!
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