This poem was written following a prompt of "Autumn" from Poets United.
Autumn
The leaves are falling,
elephant, tiger, rhino, pangolin.
Look; the leaves are falling,
coral reef, shark, narwhal, dolphin.
Out there leaves are falling everywhere,
arctic fox, walrus and polar bear.
Yes it's a tragedy
but no one seems to care.
We reel in horror when it's a few of our own
but complacent we sit and watch
as the last leaves fall.
Golden frog, striped newt,
redwood, teak, mahogany,
dragon fly, carpet moth, honeybee…
Winter's coming
and this time; there’ll be no spring.
John Carré Buchanan
07 October 2017
If you click on the link below you can listen to me read this poem.
This poem is linked to Poets United.
John I love this poem... you've said it all, perfectly. Hope this gets a wider audience. We are just sitting back in a sense and letting ourselves go into winter.
ReplyDeleteHi Thotpurge, thank you for your kind comment. I am glad you liked the poem.
DeleteThere is sadness in this poem, John. So many beautiful "leaves" are continuing to fall year after year, and only a few seem to worry. We are WAY too complacent. I really like your VERY unique take on the autumn theme.
ReplyDeleteHi Mary, thank you for your kind comment. I am glad you like my approach, I like to come at things from different angles :)
DeleteI love this, the loss, the fall, the memorial list.
ReplyDeleteHi Colleen, thanks for your kind comment. I'm glad you enjoyed my poem.
DeleteThis is a sad one. A countdown to no winter. Very bleak
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping in at my Sunday Standard today
Much💖love
Thanks for your comment Gillena.
DeleteThe image of the different colors of the leave make the metaphor of autumn so much more than just the cycle of life. No spring (which bring me back to Rachel Carson)
ReplyDeleteHi Brudberg, thank you for your comment.
DeleteI journeyed along through your falling leaves complacently ... until the last line socked me in the gut! A powerful write, John.
ReplyDeleteHi Indybev, thank you for your comment. I'm glad you thought the poem was powerful, I wish I could reach further.
DeleteThis is it exactly. It is a disaster when humans die, yet we are wiping out entire species, year upon year. Thank you for helping to raise awareness.
ReplyDeleteHi Sherry, I will keep pushing and striving to raise awareness. Thanks for your comment and support.
DeleteEven more impact, reading it again, John. Jane Goodall just released a statement, wondering why humans, as supposedly the most intelligent species (which I do not believe, given the evidence), are destroying their own planet. Incomprehensible. But greed has gotten in the way of common sense.
DeleteHi Sherry, Thanks you and Jane are so right.
DeleteA very sad write. Winter is coming (thank you for the Starks) but alas, no spring. I like how you combined the falling of leaves with the falling of things in our world.
ReplyDeleteHi Toni, My pleasure on the Sharks, I wish more people would appreciate the vital role they play in our oceans. Thanks for your comment.
DeleteJohn this is so sad, so frightening because we all fear it may be true. Poets write of truth. You are a true poet.
ReplyDeleteHi Myrna, Thank you for your compliment and your kind comment. I would like to think I am wrong, but somehow..... :(
DeleteThis can be an allegory for the recent shootings. It's sad to think about. It can also just be about animals becoming endangered. I like your poem. Says a lot. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteHi J.T, I must admit that the line about 'reeling in horror when it's a few of our own' was a direct reaction to the way we concentrate on events like the recent shootings. Sadly even within the way we react to those events we show a ridiculous complacency, if the event happens in the USA or Europe it's seen as a disaster, but in many other countries it is simply a couple of lines in a paper.
DeleteExcellent poem, John. A very interesting approach and very effective.
ReplyDeleteHi Richard, thank you for your comment. I'm glad you liked the approach.
DeleteI can very well visualize a jungle in autumn here.
ReplyDeleteHi Vandana, thanks for your comment.
DeleteWow! This is a match to Rilke's poem and I love it just as much! I see the earth as a tree now, as a family.
ReplyDeleteHi Susan, Thank you for your kind comment. I'm glad you liked the poem.
DeleteI think this is an excellent poem john. I love the correlation you have made between the natural process of dying leaves and the extinction of species. Oh we should take heed! Trudie
ReplyDeleteHi Trudie, thank you for your kind comment.
Deleteprobably the saddest of summations tagged to Autumn. it certainly brings awareness to what decline and extinction mean in numbers - a terrible imagining
ReplyDeleteHi Telltaletherapy, Thanks for your comment. You are right it is terrible.
DeleteMy heart is heavy after reading this poem. Surely, surely, we humans will wake up to the damage we are causing in this wide and wonderful world.
ReplyDeleteHi MMT, Thank you for your kind comment. I wish we would wake up!
DeletePoerful, sad and a beautiful write My heart turned for all the animals "on the list" and that it goes on without care and than the flatliner there'l be no spring
ReplyDeleteHi Marja, Thank you for your comment, I'm glad that the poem spoke to you.
Delete"Complacent we sit" Very wise and powerful words here John! Thought provoking and excellent writing!
ReplyDeleteHi Carrie, thank you for your kind comment, I'm glad that you found the poem thought provoking.
DeleteThis was an honest, and unique take on this prompt. I love it, and loved listening to you reading it.
DeleteHi Sara, thank you for your comment, I am glad you enjoyed the audio!
DeleteA sad, and important poem, John. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteHi Sarah, thank you for your kind comment.
Delete