.
Autumn’s Hand
I reach across for autumn’s hand,
When leaves begin to ride the air,
To walk amid the changing land.
Though I have yet some days unplanned,
And winter waits to bring her glare,
I reach across for autumn’s hand.
I pine for spring and summer sand,
But autumn calls, so I prepare
To walk amid the changing land.
The fallen leaves with red are tanned,
So till I meet with winter’s stare,
I reach across for autumn’s hand.
The frigid winds will come as planned,
But my desire it won’t impair,
To walk amid the changing land.
When summer yields to fall’s demand
And towns prepare a Sunday fair,
I reach across for autumn’s hand,
To walk amid the changing land.
.
.
Autumn’s Return
As summer ends its days of jade,
And frost announces fall’s return,
The leaves prepare their yearly blush;
A reddish-brown we soon discern.
While autumn tints the waiting trees,
And verdant grass returns to sleep,
The birds migrate to southern lands,
Though others choose the fall to keep.
When shorter days have matched the nights,
A fragrant scent imbues the air.
The piles of leaves are musky-sweet;
A fragrance cherished everywhere.
As parents watch their children play,
They reminisce their youthful days.
When once on leaves, they too had played,
And laughter rang as songs of praise.
.
.
Angel L. Villanueva is a religious man who resides in Massachusetts
Angel, these are wonderful poems. The villanelle gave me a feeling of calm in what has been a very stressful day. With so many nasty events and sentiments swirling around me today, it was just what I needed to be reminded of the comfortable familiarity of the seasons’ circling, above and beyond it all. Your poem has given me an awareness today of “the One that’s going to last,” as Cat Stevens sings.
I’m from Massachusetts, too, and your second poem sharply evoked my own memories of autumn in many ways – including the joy of jumping in leaves I felt as a child, and the anxiety I feel today when I see children playing in leaf piles and exposing themselves to ticks and their attendant diseases. Ah, well. Perhaps I’ll read your villanelle again…
Two atmospheric poems. It confused me for a moment seeing the refrains from the villanelle reappearing in Autumn’s Return, then realised the first quatrain WAS part of the villanelle and perhaps it was all one poem.
Mind-bogglingly inventive and effective!
Thanks for the read / reads.
Very resonant poems, and I like your closeness to nature. Thank you for publishing them here.
These were lovely and redolent with spice and chill. The line “I have yet some days unplanned” stood out to me, since, as the holidays quickly approach, these precious days dwindle. I also love winter’s glaring stare in the background, biding her time:)
The refrains for the villanelle are perfect for a poem set at the autumn equinox. And to recall summer, I very much like its “days of jade” beginning the color change in the second poem.
You have given us two beautiful autumn poems. I was especially delighted by your villanelle. Thank you for your gift of poetry. Allegra
Long time, no read, Angel. I’m glad you are back. Your poems always read easy, and these are no exceptions. However, the villanelle could have been lengthened per line with a bit more enjambment.