Fall's Promise

There’s a field of soybeans in the middle of the park where we walk.  The plants are yellowed and brown, with the seeds still attached.  In the middle of the field, there’s a patch of bright green grass where the soybeans refused to take hold.  The wind whips up and rustles the plants and their dried bones rattle in response.  Along the perimeter of the field, the wild plants are allowed to grow: goldenrod and pokeberry, its fruit bright purple and black.  I see white snakeroot and dense blazing star and green foxtail.
Tiny snakes cross our path; winding their bodies this way and that across the asphalt path, while wooly bears cross in a slower, steadier march.  A monarch butterfly rests upon a sprig of heath aster.  A white moth flits here then there, pausing only an instant at a plant before continuing on its way.
I pick up seed pods from the ground: black walnut, pungent and acidic; hard-headed hickory; prickly beechnut; maple helicopters, ash and tulip and acorns wearing jaunty hats over smooth waxen faces.
The sun breaks through turtleshell clouds.
Fishermen stand knee deep in the creek, wearing waders and boots and jackets with fishing licenses pinned to the back.  A man practices casting with an empty line. 
Children stand in line to buy treats from the ice cream truck; a boy shyly teaches his girlfriend how to skip a rock, gently wrapping his arms around her and taking her right hand in his own.  Another couple sits upon the top of a picnic table.  He bends over his guitar and sings while she stares out at the children wading in the creek.
The wood carver carves his walking sticks, hoping someone will buy today.
The sun stains the clouds pink.
Everywhere I look, there is promise.
This post was written in response to Write On Edge’s RemembeRED challenge: “For you, what does autumn evoke?  Show us in 300 words or less.”

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Writing in the Margins, Bursting at the Seams: Fall's Promise

Monday, October 17, 2011

Fall's Promise

There’s a field of soybeans in the middle of the park where we walk.  The plants are yellowed and brown, with the seeds still attached.  In the middle of the field, there’s a patch of bright green grass where the soybeans refused to take hold.  The wind whips up and rustles the plants and their dried bones rattle in response.  Along the perimeter of the field, the wild plants are allowed to grow: goldenrod and pokeberry, its fruit bright purple and black.  I see white snakeroot and dense blazing star and green foxtail.
Tiny snakes cross our path; winding their bodies this way and that across the asphalt path, while wooly bears cross in a slower, steadier march.  A monarch butterfly rests upon a sprig of heath aster.  A white moth flits here then there, pausing only an instant at a plant before continuing on its way.
I pick up seed pods from the ground: black walnut, pungent and acidic; hard-headed hickory; prickly beechnut; maple helicopters, ash and tulip and acorns wearing jaunty hats over smooth waxen faces.
The sun breaks through turtleshell clouds.
Fishermen stand knee deep in the creek, wearing waders and boots and jackets with fishing licenses pinned to the back.  A man practices casting with an empty line. 
Children stand in line to buy treats from the ice cream truck; a boy shyly teaches his girlfriend how to skip a rock, gently wrapping his arms around her and taking her right hand in his own.  Another couple sits upon the top of a picnic table.  He bends over his guitar and sings while she stares out at the children wading in the creek.
The wood carver carves his walking sticks, hoping someone will buy today.
The sun stains the clouds pink.
Everywhere I look, there is promise.
This post was written in response to Write On Edge’s RemembeRED challenge: “For you, what does autumn evoke?  Show us in 300 words or less.”

Labels: , ,

16 Comments:

At October 17, 2011 at 8:08 PM , Anonymous Elizabeth Young said...

This is beautiful. Fall is my favourite time and every year I am blown away afresh with its glory. Thank you for sharing this lovely piece!

 
At October 18, 2011 at 4:57 AM , Anonymous Galit Breen said...

I absolutely adore this time of year!

And the setting that you set? Is exactly why.

Lines like this -The sun breaks through turtleshell clouds.- read like poetry!

 
At October 18, 2011 at 5:47 AM , Anonymous Renee McKinley said...

Beautiful images! I could here the soybean plants whispering to each other.

 
At October 18, 2011 at 6:27 AM , Anonymous Megan (Best of Fates) said...

Such gorgeous imagery!

 
At October 18, 2011 at 6:28 AM , Anonymous idiosyncraticeye said...

Beautiful. :)

 
At October 18, 2011 at 7:17 AM , Anonymous E & A Rosenfried said...

i want to be there!

 
At October 18, 2011 at 7:27 AM , Anonymous Alison@Mommy is a Power Ranger said...

Wow, I felt like I was right there with you. Great post!

 
At October 18, 2011 at 7:41 AM , Anonymous Thedesertrocks said...

Lovely imagery!

 
At October 18, 2011 at 12:09 PM , Anonymous Becky Green Aaronson said...

Beautiful. So much shared in so few words! Loved the turtleshell clouds.

 
At October 18, 2011 at 12:30 PM , Anonymous sweetbutterbliss said...

I love it and makes me yearn for Autumn. It's not completely here yet in TX

 
At October 18, 2011 at 3:33 PM , Anonymous jaum said...

I agree with all those that saw/felt your word picture. The clouds... Turtle.. instantly knew what it looked like. ......soybean plants whispering.. and I could hear that! Great post.

 
At October 18, 2011 at 3:39 PM , Anonymous Latitudes of a Day said...

Wow! A camera's-eye view of the world as it pans 360. Thumbs up.

 
At October 18, 2011 at 6:29 PM , Anonymous Jackie said...

This was so fabulously descriptive. You truly captured the essence of the prompt. I got autumn.
Well done!

 
At October 19, 2011 at 10:23 AM , Anonymous Skoteinia said...

Usually spring is the season of promise, autumn the season of promise fulfilled, harvest recovered. I like the way that you have turned that around.

 
At October 19, 2011 at 10:43 AM , Anonymous DeborahBatterman said...

And such a different mood from your earlier autumn (pumpkin) post! Can't help but think of you as I look out on a field of pumpkins at my favorite local apple orchard.

 
At October 19, 2011 at 6:14 PM , Anonymous Mihee said...

Love it. Earthy and tangible.

 

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