November the Penultimate
Never was a month so motley in its days:
November, penultimate month
of a year that frames the seasons,
when the leaves in early days
turn to brightest garnet,
a blazing topaz,
illuminated gold —
The latter days come
with the fire of the winds,
and the burning leaves take the plunge
from infernal towers of the branches
to the burial grounds of a gun-
metal, brumal earth —
November, November,
calves ache from the marathon,
hearts pound the door
to another December
When holly berries huddle upon the petals
of the soft-spoken snow,
and the fallen leaves breathe again
at the sound of the carols of the children,
the children rejoicing.
D. G. Vachal © 2013
Photography Credit: November’s Decline by Bucaneve
lilies, sparrows and grass 
Lovely – thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Saleama, for reading and your comment. Blessings, Dee
O, Dee, I know that march…….that tenderness in the calves…….the ache forgotten of the road already gone behind. You sing to me in words I know by heart. Thank you, Dee. ~ Love, Bobbie
Bobbie, your words are pure poetry. I am thrilled to know you know that march, that same tenderness in the calves, and yet a forgotten pain for the glimpse of the road that lies ahead… Love, Dee
Dee – again, and again – your strength is in the color you see – I will confess to some envy here – I wish I would have wrote that – but that quickly fades – I’m so glad I read that. 🙂 Happy December Dee.
What I want to confess is the feeling that creeps in once in a while after I write something, that I did not quite hit the ball right out of the park, but perhaps just fortunate to have batted the ball at all. This is what I felt after writing and scrubbing this piece a few times, and I am quite elated at your comments, Sandy. Thank you once more for discovering some gold and ore in this field of words. And I am so glad you read this poem, too! Happy December, Sandy! 🙂
Friend ~ pure bells toll and scale between every culminating thought ! You’re a poet for all seasons ~ HAPPY DECEMBER Dee! Faithfully Debbie
Thank you for such humbling and uplifting words. Happy December, Debbie! With much affection, Dee
This poem reminded me of one last hurrah before we pull down the shutters and get ready for the party. Strange, what we take away from words well woven.
A lovely read, Dee. Thank you for bringing this to us,
Eric
What a unique and lovely way of looking at a penultimate month… “one last hurrah before we pull down the shutters and get ready for the party”…. your zest for life ever shows through, Eric. It is deliciously contagious… I am delighted the words invoked these sentiments.
Best wishes,
Dee