Wednesday 28 October 2015

WINDFALLS

It's like that
even in autumn
especially in autumn
when you become part of the fall.

You have forgotten to drink
enough water through summer, and now
you mirror the parched, desiccated
leaves that crunch and crumble
beneath the heels of your boots.


You are being pulled back,
taut elastic,
to your roots.

You pass a green tub
full of this year's Bramley windfalls

- leaves fall,
dancing free of your marching feet.

Everything is not dead
when it falls.


I pick up the living,
shaped like hearts,
the plump, yellow, still beating.

I run out of breath
clutching on to the promise
of new shoots awaiting me.

I am gorging on the wind
that feeds me hope.

I am home.

© Shaista Tayabali, 2015

(On my way over to the nieces, three words stop me and start a poem. By the time I am writing the last three words, I am home. This is a love poem to the beat of my own heart, the march of my own feet, the breath that carries me to love.)
Participating in dverse poets and magpie tales poetry prompts.
Images via dverse and magpie. Photo credit: Daniel Murtagh.

19 comments:

Katie Mia Frederick said...

Brownest of leaves..
become black
and
life
again
for
garden
green..
and with
Love as
black
leaves
light
comes
bright
back
fresh and crisp
now fall wind..:)

brudberg said...

The first stanza particularly impressed me,
Especially in autumn
When you become part of the fall.

A lovely poem of love.

Sanaa Rizvi said...

This is absolutely fantastic :D :D

mrs mediocrity said...

Beautiful... I love the interplay of fall and love and death and life.

I especially loved these lines:
"I pick up the living,
shaped like hearts,
the plump, yellow, still beating."

Tess Kincaid said...

Lovely...autumn is my personal spring...

Anonymous said...

This is very strong poetry; I loved every word.

Bodhirose said...

I like the line that says "Everything is not dead when it falls." And, "I'm gorging on the wind that feeds me hope"...such a powerful image that evokes. Beautiful expression of fall, love and hope.

Victoria said...

Beautiful imagery in this and I think your use of the second person was quite effective.

Mary said...

So many beautifully effective lines in this. I like especially, "Everything is not dead when it falls."

Carol Campbell said...

The tension in this is awesome!

Pleasant Street said...

Stunning

Sherry Blue Sky said...

I ADORE this poem! My new favourite of yours. I especially love "everything is not dead when it falls". And "I am gorging on the wind that feeds me hope." So beautiful, Shaista.

The Blog of Bee said...

New shoots are always waiting. Lovely!

Kenza said...

Picking up hearts and setting them free. That is what I like to think. I was missing you so I came to visit here and I am happy I did. Kisses sweet one. Kenza.
https://caramelcaramelo.wordpress.com

chris said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Nada said...

no words, thank you...

Shaista said...

Thank you so much x

Shaista said...

Thank you so much - that's wonderful to hear.

Shaista said...

Thank you Sherry - it was my walking poem, gathering autumn as I headed towards the twins xx

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