deepundergroundpoetry.com
Yard Work
Happily performing
my Saturday chores.
Sweeping up leaves
and other bits
of nature’s detritus.
Ecstatic to be outdoors.
Fallen foliage,
too young and green
for their final descent.
Did they voluntarily jump,
in a mass botanical suicide?
defying natural senescence.
No, they were pushed.
Their tender petioles
severed from arboreal perch
by last night’s, petulant hail storm
in league with punishing wind.
Storm clouds gather.
Distant thunder rumbles.
Prescient, strong wind blows,
heralding a downpour.
Have my efforts been in vain?
Soon more leaves will fall.
In their prime, cut down
by persistent pelting rain.
my Saturday chores.
Sweeping up leaves
and other bits
of nature’s detritus.
Ecstatic to be outdoors.
Fallen foliage,
too young and green
for their final descent.
Did they voluntarily jump,
in a mass botanical suicide?
defying natural senescence.
No, they were pushed.
Their tender petioles
severed from arboreal perch
by last night’s, petulant hail storm
in league with punishing wind.
Storm clouds gather.
Distant thunder rumbles.
Prescient, strong wind blows,
heralding a downpour.
Have my efforts been in vain?
Soon more leaves will fall.
In their prime, cut down
by persistent pelting rain.
Published 26th Apr 2020
Author's Note
Thoughts from the front yard while sweeping the driveway.
NaPo/GloPo?WriMo 2020 #25
NaPo/GloPo?WriMo 2020 #25
All writing remains the property of the author. Don't use it for any purpose without their permission.
likes 5
reading list entries 2
comments 10
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26th Apr 2020 2:03am
Dear G,
Great write. I’ve learned a lot of new words here and I’m excited about that. Your piece paints a wonderful spring tableau of renrewal and hope for the return to the usual activities. I enjoyed your quandary of the exercise perhaps being in vain with incoming bad weather. That’s one of those situations where it’s all about the moment and being outside isn’t it? Lovely write. H🌷
Great write. I’ve learned a lot of new words here and I’m excited about that. Your piece paints a wonderful spring tableau of renrewal and hope for the return to the usual activities. I enjoyed your quandary of the exercise perhaps being in vain with incoming bad weather. That’s one of those situations where it’s all about the moment and being outside isn’t it? Lovely write. H🌷
26th Apr 2020 6:08am
I am truly honored, Honoria, that you enjoyed this piece❣❣I was an inspiring day for yard work. I too learned new words writing the piece. And I too enjoy discovering nwords, new to me, that I can add to my palette. We have a symbiosis of thought regarding the worthiness oh f my labor...it was all about being outside, enjoying the sunshine, wind, and rain. And good music 🙏😘
26th Apr 2020 3:21am
Beautiful poem, I also learned some new words!!
Every single time it rains or high winds
I have a ton of huge branches all over my yard. I have a lot of clean up to do.
Every single time it rains or high winds
I have a ton of huge branches all over my yard. I have a lot of clean up to do.
26th Apr 2020 6:14am
Thank you very much, Nikki❣❣ New words discovered are like unearthing buried treasure. We have similar yards we've had enormous limbs come down that hit the back lawn with a loud, resounding thud🙏😘
26th Apr 2020 3:43am
26th Apr 2020 6:29am
*blush* I sat down, after my exhausting day in the yard, intending to write a throw-away then inspiration struck...times that reaffirm that I am on the right track writing poetry. Thank you for the inspiring comment ❣❣🙏😘
26th Apr 2020 10:58am
Love the probing nature of this ... wonderful write GW ... love it ... full of such plump ... juicy words ...
27th Apr 2020 2:15am
Thank you so much dear Soledad❣❣ That we share a love of plump juicy words makes me happy 😘
26th Apr 2020 10:43pm
This will sound trite to single out in your beautifully organic poem but I've never seen the word senescence more beautifully rendered. It slides like an oiled bolt into the line and stanza. Zen magnification rendered with terrific balance of voice in clarity and sensitivity.
27th Apr 2020 2:20am
Thank you Daniel! I actually felt something special when I chose and placed senescence. It does add that Zen quality that deeper connection with the unavoidable cycle of nature. Cheers!
