The Seasons Turn by Polly Stretton

The green-brown burrs of autumn have gone,
the beechnuts consumed or rotting
in the now-fallen foliage.

When people come

they'll walk this straight path,

see boulders lined shoulder-to-shoulder,

stroll beneath soon-to-be-bare frames

of slender trees.

In the avenue they'll be safe

if they take care; 

light and large-wheeled phaetons stay upright,

horses permitting,

but tip-tilting curricles must beware!

As they pass, the leaves swirl and twirl

before settling once more.

Artists arrive, all chatter and clatter, 

paints, palettes and easels;

they point and name the colours: 

oxblood red, sable brown, topaz, ochres, and charcoal black;

hints of olive and pistachio green remain,

as if to be tasted.

While, hovering around the corridor of trees 

amethyst tints imbued with light and shade

applaud as the scent of winter approaches.

These are the minutes,

all the wishfulness,

every heartfelt loss and glorious gain 

of our times.

As many wishes as leaves on the ground,

thought of as often as the burrs of autumn.

And the seasons turn.

---

Polly Stretton organises the spoken-word monthly event 42Worcester and is Chair of the OU Poetry Society. She makes a bit of a living as a Quality Consultant in education, drinks much tea, and loves walking her two little dogs. 'Girl's Got Rhythm', her first poetry collection, was reprinted by Black Pear Press (2016) who also published 'Chatterton', (2014) and 'The Alchemy of 42', (2020). More of her work is available here: https://journalread.com