The Willow Weeps for Summer

 

AUTUMN

THE WILLOW WEEPS FOR THE DEATH OF SUMMER IN A GRAVEYARD GARDEN OF FORMERLY GREEN STALKED COLORFUL FLOWERS WAVERING AND FALTERING, SAGGING, BROWN, CORRUPTED, NEGENTROPIC WRETCHES PREPARED TO GIVE THEMSELVES UP ON THE SACRIFICIAL ALTAR OF THE EARTH TO DISINTEGRATE AND HOPEFULLY BE REBORN NEXT SPRING

TO EARLY MAN THE SEASON BROUGHT THE HARVEST AND PLENTY BUT ALSO TREPIDATION AND FEAR OF STARVATION DUE TO THE LONG WINTER TO COME AS THE EARTH’S BEAUTY WITHERED ON THE VINE AND FOOD SUPPLIES DWINDLED REQUIRING JUDICIOUS PLANNING AND DISCIPLINED RATIONING TO SURVIVE UNTIL THE GLORY OF SPRING GEESE PRUDENTLY GATHER AND FLY AWAY TO WARMER CLIMES

NOW THE BREEZE COMES TEARING THE LEAVES FROM THEIR HOME IN THE BOUGHS HYSTERICALLY CLUTCHING AT THE ASPHALT AND SCRAPING ACROSS THE GROUND THEY FIGHT THEIR INEVITABLE DEMISE TAP DANCING DOWN THE STREET AGAINST THEIR WILL

THE LEAVES ARE LEAVING, UNCEREMONIOUSLY PLEADING FOR LEAVE TO STAY CLUTCHING AND CLAWING LIKE SAILORS ON A SINKING WOODEN SHIP WEAVING THEMSELVES INTO THE RATLINES FOR A FEW MORE MINUTES OF LIFE BEFORE THE ENDLESS DRINK

IT IS NOT EASY TO DIE GRACEFULLY AND WALK OFF THE STAGE WITH HONOR WHEN YOUR ROLE IS ENDED

SUN FLOWERS CATCH THEIR REFLECTION IN A PASSING POLISHED LIMOUSINE AND COME TO TERMS WITH THEIR SAGGING PAUNCH, POOR POSTURE AND WIZENED FACE, NO LONGER A SUITABLE SYMBOL OF HELIOS AND THE BROILING BEAUTY OF SUMMER

WIND-CHIMES TINKLE ALL DOWN THE STREET AS THE BREEZE FLIES PAST OUR EARLOBES WITH NUTMEG AND CINNAMON WHISPERING IN OUR EARS, THAT CHANGE IS COMING FROM A RELAXED SELF-SATISFIED SUMMER SLUMBER TO A COLD, CRISP, PRODUCTIVE, EFFICIENT FALL

THE SCHOOL CHILDREN WITH THEIR NEW BACKPACKS AND PENCIL CASES, STUFFED WITH PENCILS, PENS AND ERASERS, ALONG WITH THE LOVE AND HOPE OF THEIR PARENTS MARCH OFF TO SCHOOL ASSAULTING UNSUSPECTING LEAVES IN RETALIATION FOR THE END OF SUMMER WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY EXCITED TO SEE THEIR FRIENDS AGAIN AND MEET THEIR NEW TEACHERS AND LEARN NEW AND EXCITING IDEAS IN THEIR NEW ELEVATED STATUS

THE SEASON IS A MIXED BAG OF EMOTIONS, SADNESS AND JOY, PROMISE AND ADVENTURE

FALL IS THE EARTH’S GARDENER CUTTING, SLICING, HACKING, RAKING AND WEEDING THE ANNUALS WHILE LEAVING THE PERENNIALS TO LIVE ON, DURING THIS ANNUAL JUDGEMENT DAY

ENTROPY REQUIRES CHANGE WHICH IS UNCOMFORTABLE AND CHALLENGING BUT POTENTIALLY REWARDING AND ULTIMATELY NECESSARY

THE WILLOW WEEPS FOR THE DEATH OF SUMMER

 

JIM -SEPT ‘23