In the blistering heat of this summer, trees
haven’t given up completely:
leaves have curled, turned brown, shrivelled –
but they haven’t fallen.
They’re protesting with berries
and an abundance of acorns. Squirrels
have been running riot, early scavengers
preparing for the onslaught of winter.
Kim M. Russell, 24th August 2026
This Monday we are writing Quadrilles with Punam at the dVerse Poets Pub, and the word she has chosen to be included in our 44-word poems is ‘protest’.
writing in north norfolk 
Love the incorporation of squirrels… it is busy times right now.
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Thanks Björn. They really are busy.
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“They’re protesting with berries
and an abundance of acorns”
Nice one
much love
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Thank you, Gillena! Much love to you.
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It’s not been the warmest of summers up here in Vermont, mere steps away from the Canadian border. I’m signing up for anti-winter protests, though, knowing that I’ll miss whatever warmth we’ve got…
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A great take on the prompt Kim! our apple orchards are also protesting by dropping all their apples – unfortunately, they are not yet ripe….
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Thank you, Kim, We have lots of apples, but the plums haven’t fared well. I’m waiting for the quinces.
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I love that last line, “the onslaght of winter.” Very nice contrast to the blistering heat of summer. I have 4 bluejays every morning at sunrise come to my porch for some unshelled peanuts and they have to compete witht he squirrels…best part of my day lol!! Great poem and you hit this one out of the park per usual! 🙏
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Thank you kindly, Cara. Sadly, I haven’t seen a jay in our garden for a long time. But we have deer and pheasants.
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Wow, I’d enjoy watching them, especially deer💙
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Very nicely done, Kim. It won’t be long now!
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Thanks Dwight!
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You are welcome.
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I hope the winter brings what your weary trees need, in just right doses. Sounds like the squirrels are ready!
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I’m particularly worried about the curly willow as it had to be pollarded last year – the electricity cables run across and can get tangled in the branches. But willows are hardy and grow quickly, so I hope to see green leaves next year.
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I sure hope you do!
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A wonderful autumnal protest poem, Kim…I like those squirrels running riot!
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Thank you, Lynn. We only have grey squirrels here, but where my sister lives, on the Isle of Wight, there are only red ones.
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…and our squirrels are brown.
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A nice, and essentially positive take on the word. I enjoyed spending a little time with your trees and squirrels.
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Thank you, Rosemary. You’re always welcome to spend time with me and my trees and squirrels.
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Fantastic poem Kim. Nature’s protest to winter.
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Thank you, Stew!
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“They’re protesting with berries”–I love that line so much, Kim! 💙
The squirrels and birds are very busy here, too.
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Thank you so much, Merril!
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You’re welcome, Kim!
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I love this interpretation, Kim, although I wish we had less fiery weather. I worry about what our species is doing to our beautiful planet.
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You’re welcome, Freya. I share your worry.
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I love your incorporation of “protest” into nature and those curled leaves, defying the fall. A beautiful quadrille, Kim.
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Thank you, Mish!
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We surely have a lot to learn from nature! I so love your Q, Kim. This summer has been brutal, isn’t it!
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Thank you so much, Punam. Thankfully it has cooled down a bit here in the UK, but the temperature is expected to rise again in September.
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I’m with the trees. I’m holding onto summer as long as I can.
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It’s cooled down a bit here, but we’ve been forecast another heatwave in September. I hope it won’t affect the changing colours of the treesw.
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“protesting with berries” … I love that so much.
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Thank you, Shawna!
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Ah, a fruitful protest!
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I really enjoyed this seasonal depiction, Kim–a lovely poetic scene. ❤
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Thank you very much, Jennifer!
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I like that trees protest and nature joins in as a whole.
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Cheers Paul!
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