She paints the landscape red and gold,
cossets fruit, more than we can hold,
silvers webs and tinkers with the light
only to plunge us into wintry night.
Her leafy folly flutters and decays,
the fruits of her labour last but days,
winter haunts her with ghostly mist
and bids her goodbye with an icy kiss.
Kim M. Russell, 27th October 2020
My response to dVerse Poets Pub Poetics: Mussenden Folly, also linked to Poets and Storytellers United Writers’ Pantry
Lisa is our host this Tuesday with a prompt based on follies, and not just the kind rich people build, like the Mussenden Folly.
Lisa has given us a definition of an architectural folly and a human behavioural one, as well as sharing images and poems on the theme.
Our challenge is to write poems with the word ‘folly’ in them: about a decorative structure not intended to have a function; the Ziegfield Follies; an act of folly; the folly of youth and the fear of folly in older years.
Ooh, I love the rhyme scheme here, Kim! This is very well-written and dark. I was not expecting these lines:
“winter haunts her with ghostly mist
and bids her goodbye with an icy kiss.”
A kiss of death, so it seems. How dark and I loved the inclusion of winter themes with death and grief. Very beautifully penned; it is solemn and sad.
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I love reading your responses as much as I love reading your poetry, Lucy. Thank you!
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Wonderful!
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Thank you, Nick!
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This is lovely, Kim — to be honest, despite autumn’s beauty, there is a deep sadness in it too, and it isn’t my favourite season. You have captured that feeling well.
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Thank you, Francis. Autumn is a sad season. I love the colours and the mists, especially here in Norfolk. But today was grim, all rain and grey skies. My visit to the chiropodist was the high point!
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Well, we must always try to put ‘our best foot forward’, hm, sorry!
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😉
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Autumn is an impetuous enchantress isn’t she! Alas, she always leaves us cold 😦 Such an accurate characterization, Kim.
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Thank you, Lisa. She does leave us cold, but she does give us a tapestry of warm colours before she goes.
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❤ 🙂
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The beauty of fall is so brief (just like the spring)… and winter is waiting around the corner.
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So true – and I’m not looking forward to this winter.
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Oh marvelous, KR, esp the penultimate stanza with ifs leafy fluttering folly and its labor’s fruits.
And you mastered the meter beautifully. Thanks!!
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Thanks for the lovely comments, Ron!
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This is absolutely exquisite in its use of language and imagery, Kim.💝 Autumn is a time for introspection as the season grows with its auburn and dark blue mixed together to inculcate wisdom and humility in a person 🙂 Especially love; “Her leafy folly flutters and decays, the fruits of her labour last but days.” Yes!💝
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Thank you so much, Sanaa! 🙂
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I love this Kim! Such a brief stay. Yes, her folly.
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Thank you, Mary!
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Autumn’s wistful goodbye from abundance to demise…a gorgeous write, Kim!
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Thanks so much, Lynn!
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You’re welcome 🙂
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I love your chilling ending! Autumn’s Folly …very short lived! Well done Kim.
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Thank you, Dwight!
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You have captured Autumn’s folly to the letter here, Kim. Is it fickleness? Does she enjoy plunging us into darkness? At least she does it beautifully!
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Thank you, Ingrid! Poor Autumn has no choice. She has so little time to perform her magic before Winter comes along and bullies her into oblivion – every year!
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Autumn as insanity personified! I like that. The rhymes and the rhythm give it a light touch, defuses any drama. It leaves a feeling of wistfulness rather than tragedy.
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Thank you, Jane. Autumn is wistful – winter is tragic.
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Spot on!
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It does seems like autumn plays with us, so much life mingling with so much death. You have, as usual, created great atmosphere with your words. (K)
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Thanks Kerfe!
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Icy kiss! I love the way you make this an interaction (flirtation?) between fall and winter. Well done!
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Thank you, Dora!
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You have painted a beautiful picture with your words. It is all the more lovely because of the temporary nature of this moment. It was a gift to my day. Thank you.
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Thank you, Ali, for your kind words.
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Hi Kim. The intense beauty of autumn may only last but a short while, but how beautiful it is! I think neither it’s occurring or our enjoying it can never be folly. Wonderful poem. I truly enjoyed this Kim!
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Thank you kindly, Rob!
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lots of ‘cold’ words and images here Kim, makes me glad I live in a temperate climate!
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Thank you, Kate.
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How magically this flows – as effortless and absorbing as a fairytale
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Thank you, Jae!
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What a beautiful read this was and the rhyming was great.
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Thank you so much, Robin!
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Nice on, that icy kiss is ouch.
Stay safe
Much💙love
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Thank you, Gillena 💛
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Nice take on ‘folly’, and nice poem altogether.
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Thank you, Rosemary.
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I love the lilting rhyme of this one, Kim. You capture autumn so well.
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Thank you! There’s so much to write about autumn, Bev.
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A perfect description of autumn time. All the way to its precarious relationship with winter’s icy boot.
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I’m dreading that icy boot, Magaly.
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You and me both!
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Those fruits that only last days, contradicting the implied abundance–that is an image that has pressed itself into my head.
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It’s all over so quickly, Wyndolynne.
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Fleeting season and beautifully painted in words. Like the squirrel gather all your stores and sit quietly during the bleak months with the warmth of your words. Stay safe and give thanks that you have a life of the mind…if most were like this you would not be going into another lock down. Chin up !
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Thank you, Rall! The thought of another lockdown, especially over winter, is more than daunting. I am so thankful for our poets’ community. I don’t know what I’d do without it. Stay safe and well!
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I like the couplets. Nicely written and aptly described!
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Thank you, Jenna!
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Perfect Autumn Poem!
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Thank you, Susie!
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Wonderfully penned!
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Thank you!
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Your work is truly delightful, Kim! It’s good to connect with you and thank you so much for following my blog.
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My pleasure!
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