White Pumpkin with Gourd and Leaves
Autumn Moon
Autumn moon peers
between branches,
as smooth as sticks.
Lost leaves that traveled
on the tireless wind
now lie along roads
or wind up in woods,
trampled by footsteps.
The moon’s enigmatic glow,
sensuous and ladylike,
softens the cold, still night.
Lainie Senechal
Apples with Leaves
Mid-October
A break in the storm
brings balmy weather,
Changing leaves twist in breeze
but do not abandon branches.
Howling winds that chill toes,
toss branches like cabers
onto brown-hued fields
have not yet arrived.
In mid-October we wait
for transition of seasons:
the arc from warm, sultry days
into fall’s cool, brisk hours.
Dream of summer is long past
while autumn’s entrance
is inexplicably delayed.
Lainie Senechal
Apple with Acorns
Autumn Musings
A cloudless autumn sky,
a day that reverses time,
summer’s mirage heats the hours,
no fog to dim our memory
of balmy days when hawks
ruled the season’s heavens.
Loss of sun and time
a phantom of our remembrances,
we imagine mellow days
will always be our measure.
Lainie Senechal
Gourds
Autumn Knocks
Things transition so slowly:
a few crisp mornings,
the birch barely bedecked
with a garland of golden leaves,
The wild winter ducks have
not returned from up north;
white gulls whirl in wind
to soar above a Great Blue
that still stilts along shore
searching for silver fish.
Autumn knocks on the door
but finds no one home.
Lainie Senechal
Sunflowers Awaken
September Morning
A morning of secrets –
a halo of mist rings
the cooling lake,
catches in branches
of tall trees along shore.
In some spots the sun
breaks through, bright
rays explode on ripples
created by rising wind which
cleans out remaining wisps,
pushes tethered boats
to rub and squeak against docks,
while a kingfisher rattles above:
the song of a September morn.
Lainie Senechal
Announcement: Lainie will be exhibiting artwork with members of the Kaji Aso Studio at the Fenway Community Center, 1282 Boylston St., Boston. The exhibit runs from Sept. 1 through Dec. 31st with an opening reception on Sept. 16th from 3-5 PM. Free and open to the public.
Autumn Wind
Fall Takes Another Step
Fall takes another step forward.
Blustery breezes leave branches empty –
all colorful leaves lost.
The trees do not miss them,
their thoughts curve away,
their productive season ends.
They will peacefully sleep
through claps of thunder snow
and winter’s wild winds.
Lainie Senechal
Announcement: Lainie will exhibit her artwork in the 2016 Amesbury Open Studio Tour on Nov. 12th & Nov. 13th. She will also hang 100 haiku along the tour route.
Acorns
The Acorn
A ping on picnic table,
a thump in humus,
a crack against granite outcrop,
a splash into fountains flow,
in autumn wind, leaves of oak
wave farewell to her children
who plummet down,
manna for inhabitants
of the forest below.
Squirrel scolds curious cat
for disturbing frenetic
gathering of bounty.
food for winter, freely
given, freely taken,
a pantry open to all.
I roam, unexpectedly,
the woods of childhood –
the place where
the great teacher dwells.
I beg for a sign of remembrance
to the devotee who loved so well.
On the path ahead lies a large acorn,
the sign of recognition,
passed secretly from healer
to healer in the Burning Times.
This tiny womb – a promise
and a gift for one who was
nurtured and is nurtured still.
Lainie Senechal
Announcement: Lainie hosts a poetry series at the Amesbury Public Library. The next event is Wednesday, October 26th at 6 PM. Alfred Nicol is the featured reader.
Moon, River and Whittier Bridge
The Autumn Soul
A slow shift of the sun
that fades incrementally from
Northern skies in a final
canopy of brilliant crimson.
No longer an early riser,
the day brightens gradually.
A few hot hours linger,
a melancholy for something
missed settles into
the autumn soul.
Lainie Senechal
Announcement: Lainie will read her poetry at “The Arts and the Experience of Nature” event at the Joppa Flats Audubon Center. Newburyport, MA on Wednesday, October 19th at 7:30pm.
Pumpkins
Mid-November
Prodigal trees have strewn
a wealth of leaves
onto the the lawn
which overflows into beds
emptied of summer’s blooms.
Winter ducks return from Arctic,
energetically feed on water weeds
below lake’s cold surface.
We gather a hefty harvest
to relieve the want
of winter’s harshest hours.
Lainie Senechal
Announcement: Lainie will be reading excerpts from Snowbound by John Greenleaf Whittier at the Holiday Open House at the Whittier Home, 86 Friend Street, Amesbury, MA. The Open House is from 1 to 5 PM on Sunday, Dec. 6.
Announcement:
Lainie Senechal has been chosen by the Amesbury Cultural Council to be the first Poet Laureate for the City of Amesbury, MA.
Autumn Gleanings #2
Early November
whose waves lightly pound
stones that line the shore.
A flock of yellow butterflies –
loosened leaves flutter in breeze.
Even black nights are bedecked
with bright diamonds.
No sudden changes to send
the howl of Arctic blasts;
mild November dances in
with utter delight.
Lainie Senechal