I take my daily stroll around the yard and notice the shift in color as summer theater packs up its costumes. Browns lift from the soil to the tips of flower stalks as prickly seeds that I gather into slowly filling ramekins. Bright-costumed sulphur cosmos depart, to creep their color along undergrowth and up into the leaves of the pear tree and witch hazel. Leaves which clung so tightly to twigs and branches, let go to dance their swan songs.
Yesterday’s warm breeze has taken a chill turn today. Cotton ball gauze against clear, royal blue now blend to uniform pearlescent gray. We are in the see-saw time of equinox, where autumn steps under cool white, onto the stage. Bees, frantic to set in sugar stores, swarm goldenrod, late tall dandelions, and apple-scented chamomile. Field mice sneak in to set up winter lodging, only to be surprised by two bored cats. Jays call across the field to each other.
deer wait for apples
birds plump on seeds and suet
wood smoke on the air
all pics taken today
Frank Tassone is today’s host for dVerse’ Haibun Monday. Frank says:
Today, let’s embrace the day and the night. Let’s write haibun that include or reference the Equinox.
Tao Talk 
Love all of your vivid imagery, and I especially love the summer theater packing up its costumes.🍁
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Thanks, Melissa :) <3
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Very nicely done Lisa. Yes the summer theater is finished! A great way of putting it.
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Thank you and glad you enjoyed the poem, Dwight :)
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You are very welcome.
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I love all the rich imagery you’ve added, Lisa. I could smell the wood smoke! Great photos too!
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Thanks much, Colleen :)
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You’re welcome, Lisa.
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You’ve made a long and colourful checklist of summer’s last fling. The haiku sums it up in a puff of smoke :)
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:) Subconsciously done but it does!
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Your subconscious has talent :)
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“as summer theater packs up its costumes. ”
Luv your phrase. Happy Monday.
Much🖤love
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Gillena, so happy you enjoyed the phrase, thank you.
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A beautiful Haibun on the changing seasons. Your imagery is so full of life – I can see everything in my mind’s eye in full color. Thank you for taking me there, Lisa!
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Miriam, I’m glad you enjoyed the journey, thank you <3
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I did. :)
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Wonderful sounds and colours of fall today Lisa. As a Poet do you have a favourite season ?
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Thank you, Randy. No favorite season, but distinct seasons are excellent for rotating moods to go with nature in poems.
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An evocative array of imagery enlivens your witness to the Equinox
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Thank you, Frank. Like Madge used to say in the Palmolive commercials, I’m “soaking in it.” (nod to my old friend chinolatino)
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(Whoops! I posted before I finished)
Elegantly done!
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Thanks, Frank :)
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This is marvelous, Lisa. I love the idea of the summer drama packing up. Although it’s bittersweet, especially for us gardeners who start thinking about next year’s garden almost immediately.
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Thank you, Sascha, and indeed!
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:)
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Your words and photos work so well together to capture the between. (K)
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:) Thank you, Kerfe. I tried.
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I enjoyed all your specific detail. I recently read Station Eleven and your theater metaphor made me think of it.
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Maria, I didn’t read the book but I saw the series and know what you are talking about. Thank you!
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A beautiful Haibun Li. Love these photos.
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Sadje, thank you :)
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You’re most welcome
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A nice call to the transition of fall.
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Max, thank you. It is here to stay, at least for awhile.
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So very, very, very lovely, Lisa. <3
~David
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<3 David <3
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I’m intrigued by how many refers to the equinox as an in-between. Makes me smile and wonder as did your haibun so beautifully done.
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Petru, I think every equinox is an in-between :) Thank you very much.
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And here I am thinking the equinox is the only true (resting) point.
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That’s interesting, Petru. Each sees the world through their own lens. I’d like to hear more about why you see it that way (if you care to share.)
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This is really gorgeous.
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Thank you, Someone :)
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O, so vivid, it seems so much like a season to enjoy.
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Oh it is. To be able to be outside without burning up is a joyful relief. Thank you for reading and your comment, Bjorn.
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Pictures and words – perfect! Delightful, Lisa.
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Happy you enjoyed them, Keith, thank you.
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Beautiful descriptions of this wonderful time of year.
I could so easily picture it all.
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Dale, thank you and am guessing it’s similar to your area.
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Oh yes, you know it.
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Autumn is definitely here. In my neck of the woods, we had rain throughout the weekend and yesterday. Today the rain finally stopped. I looks like we will continue to get a break tomorrow and Thursday and then more rain on Fri and Sat. I guess I’m starting to sound like some weather man! :-)
My point is with all that rain, the changes autumn brings seem to occur even faster. Soon we’ll likely be drowning in leaves! :-)
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For sure the rain helps knock down the leaves. We are getting your rain now. Thanks :) I had heard it was going to rain so I bagged up the peony roots.
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Your life sound idyllic. How lucky you are to have such a beautiful garden and to be surrounded by such peace.
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Suzanne, it is starting to get that way, after 60 years of chaos that came before. I have only myself to blame for being a slow learner. Poor choices can often be like pit bulls with their tenacity.
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Wow. 60 years on the one plot of land. You must know it really well. I have done many gardens in my life but haven’t lived in the properties long enough to see the long term results. I hope I didn’t leave problems behind for future gardeners. I probably made some poor choices too.
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Suzanne, no, I have only been at this place since 2011, but you know that saying wherever you go there you are. I have carried my chaos with me :)
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haha! Know that feeling well :) I’m up to my eyebrows in my own chaos today!
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It’s funny how the human always seeks balance. When things get too pastoral I long to stir things up a little; but those stirrings can backfire bigtime. Just like you and your chaos today are probably looking for the pastoral, but there is a fine line between pastoral and inert ;) Ymmv!
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Yes, ‘Nature’ has her costumes! I’ve got a plant ID app on my phone – I just ID’d this little pink flowering plant called ‘Spotted Lady’s Thumb’ = While it is an invasive little plant I also found some good from it “What is the benefit of ladies thumb? Lady’s Thumb (Polygonum persicaria) Species Page
Lady’s Thumb is a medicinal plant. Native Americans used the leaves in treatments of stomach pains and poison ivy. They also rubbed the plant on their horses as an insect repellant. Lady’s Thumb, along with various species of Smartweed are a part of the buckwheat family.’
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How interesting about Spotted Lady’s Thumb. I believe that many plants considered invasive species or weeds have medicinal properties. The mugwort that choked out my peonies is considered a medicinal herb I think.
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I read somewhere that when there is a poisonous plant growing there is usually a remdey plant nearby. Like Jewel wart sap for poison ivy!!
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Really!? will have to look for jewel wart to grow.
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The Jewelweed I have grows by the gully and the creek, mostly. Some has grown up the slight hill by the gully. I could try and save you some seeds? There still might be some around. If not now, certainly in the spring. Mine has little orange flowers.
I believe I read that the Jewelweed sap, like aloe vera… break off the stem and apply the sap.
(net) “What is jewelweed herb used for?
Jewelweed is most commonly known for its use in the topical treatment of poison ivy rash due to its antipruritic properties. Various plant parts have traditionally been used orally to promote blood flow, to relieve postchildbirth and joint pain, to treat bruises and swelling, and as an antidote to fish poisoning.”
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Jules, you’ve sent me plenty of seeds already, thank you so much. I am sure I can find it around here. The real trick, of course, is to avoid the poison ivy altogether :) I say that, but the other day a stem near the stacked bricks brushed my forearm and, even though I immediately squeezed dish soap on it to remove the oils, I had a large itchy lesion for over a week :(
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Nasty stuff when plants fight back…
Heal quickly :)
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“I take my daily stroll around the yard and notice the shift in color as summer theater packs up its costumes. ”
All your phrasings in this poem are so vivid. Also love the haiku!
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Sara, thank you very much <3
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This would make a wonderful children’s book, with each sentence (or two) filling a page and supported by the vivid images they conjure. Love the bees, mice and cats, too. Nice!
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Thanks, Kim, and I’m glad you think so :)
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