The last honeysuckle of the year
airs her fading blooms.
They no longer exude perfume,
nor do bees come near;
their candy colours have faded,
outdone by copper costumes
trimmed with berry red
and drenched
with autumn’s overpowering
leaf mulch scent.
Kim M. Russell, 2017
For dVerse Poets Pub Open Link Night
I wrote this after discovering late honeysuckle blooms in our garden this morning.
What a contrast that must be when the honeysuckle blends with decay… The scent of fall is overpowering now, and there are so few apples this year so there is nothing to soothe it.
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We actually discovered three quinces in the undergrowth this week – and we hadn’t even noticed them on the tree!
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Some lovely work here Kim – felt like I was feasting on juxtaposed elements like: candy costumes, copper costumes, berry red and drenched… Fresh and so enjoyable – tank you…
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Thank you for reading and commenting, Scott. I’m so behind with my reading but hope to catch up later on today.
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I always feel sad when the flowers are fading and all the leaves are drenched and mulched on the ground ~ Hope you are feeling better Kim ~
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Thank you, Grace. If the headache doesn’t ease off soon I think I might have to visit the doctor. I couldn’t get out of bed this morning – not at all like me – and can’t seem to get going. I’ll have to shake a leg soon because it’s a reading morning and I can’t let the little ones down.
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Kim, this is such a canvas you’ve written.
honeysuckle & flowers decaying always brings a sadness to my heart. Nevertheless, such a great poem. 🙂
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Thank you! Our garden is delightful at the moment with the late honeysuckle, autumn crocuses and cyclamen – gentle colours among the strong gold and browns that have started to appear. But I agree, it is also sad when the flowers fade.
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You welcome, Kim.
Excellent observation. You make great points.
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What a lovely response to a late bloomer!
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Reblogged this on Vesper Lynd.
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Thank you so much for the reblog!
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Gorgeous imagery in this, Kim! ❤️
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Thank you, Sana!
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Brava.. 🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀
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Mille grazie, Dorna!
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A lovely depiction of the transition of one season to another. Elegantly done 🙂
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Thank you, Vivian! 🙂
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You’re welcome 🙂
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I could almost smell that thick mulch of decaying plants and flowers, Kim. It’s always thrilling when we get a few late bloomers that extend summer just a little bit longer.
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I’m so lucky with that honeysuckle, Gayle, it blooms more than once a year!
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leaf mulch scent… can smell that through the colours!
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We went for a walk in the woods last weekend and I wanted to bottle that smell!
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As other comments – lovely images and the play on the tropes of autumn – decay, fruitfulness, mulch. and those capricious bees – V. nice.
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Thanks Peter!
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Your poem is wonderful, Kim. I felt I was standing in your garden seeing and smelling what you had written. That is the very best to me, when I feel I am drawn into something…out of my own chair.
I hope you are better soon, Kim. Headaches are horrible. I had migraines for 25 years every month…and since menopause, nothing. Not even one. That was a blessing! Do see your doctor soon, though. Such beautiful writing, Kim. When we have a headache, our lives are so disrupted, and our creativity is on hold. Blessings to you.
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Thank you so much, lovely Jane. xxx
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Beautiful capture. I love copper costumes. Also, a great parallel to the seasons in life.
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A beautiful poem Kim and I am sorry to hear about your headeaches – have you had an eye test recently? Sometimes when we strain too hard to see it can give these throbbing headaches too. Hope you feel better soon and we wish you a lovely weekend :o) xxx
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Thank you, Xenia. I’ve just had new glasses but I also cracked my head on a cupboard a while ago, which caused a large bump but I thought nothing of it. I’ve not been sleeping well, so I had a little lie-in this morning, which helped for a while. I’m going to get off the computer for the rest of the day, just in case. Thank you for caring my friend. 🙂
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In that case I would go and see a doctor Kim – if the bump was big there might be some deeper bruising and it is best to have it looked at. Hope you feel better soon and sending love and healing thoughts 🤗💖 xxx
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xxx
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A wonderful juxtaposition of Autumn coming in and this cheeky late blooming honeysuckle. Gawd Bless her. ( I’m sure she’s a she) Hope your noggin improves.
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Thanks Paul 😼😳
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Most excellent work.
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Thank you, Marley.
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Damn, we all seem to have our health challenges–sending bolts of white light your direction. My wife & daughters all suffer from migraines, and take meds for it, which seem to help. We are having a bit of Indian Summer here in the Pac NW, sun & 70. My wife’s 8 tomato plants are still thriving.
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Perfectly described, Kim! You took me there. I’ve been seeing all of the signs on my bike rides. Summer was too quick.
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It is interesting that they bloom without fragrance to attract the bees.
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There is something about the contrast between the sweetness of the flower and the must of decay–such a fitting contrast the first day of autumn!
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A delightful autumn vignette.
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Thanks Bev!
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You paint a vivid picture here, the fading notwithstanding.
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Thank you, Sue!
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Excellent write on a cyclical event sure to return.
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Life in the midst of dying, and captured in such exquisite lines. Beautiful!
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Thank you, Frank.
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My pleasure, Kim.
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