Your autumn melancholy is eloquent and flows unhindered, Sappho. If we, like the leaves, could let go we would be more free and happier.. I like to think, anyway. “Until death embraces you again”, that line evokes a strange though peaceful reaction within me. All things return to their original state, which I guess in the case of living things is nonexistence. Only my take on things. A joy to read and very thought provoking piece.

Clay

Just beautiful…🙏

Greetings Elke. What a marvelous piece of poetry my friend. I absolutely love this time of year. I don’t look at this time of the year as the end but the beginning. Peace & tranquility with cooler temperatures and an appreciation for nature. Stellar write as always!

I like the idea of embracing shadows, not everything needs to be terrifying.
Nature shows us how to accept change gracefully.
Wonderful write.

An especially brilliant line: “…Until death embraces you again.”

Beautifully penned, Elke. Such an amazing write my friend. Appreciate you.

Damian

Autumn is the best season. Besides the beauty of it, it’s also about reflection and preparation. It’s the kindest season, too.
As per your usual, this is a strong write, with great details to capture the readers interest.
Many writers say that they write for themselves. That is only partially true. We also write/post to be seen somewhat. And we describe what we see, feel, etc. You write like a leader. A gentleness in your guidance through your poetry.

Autumn, when color is the harbinger of death and the bleakness of Winter. I think it is true, you don’t really appreciate living until you have seen death. Most people see Autumn as a cyclic event, but this is not true. It’s more the contradiction of all life in which death is a fundamental element within it, and until it becomes dominant over life. And ironically, we humans are the only life form on the planet that contemplates our lives and our deaths. We are amazing creatures and should not waste one precious second of our lives thinking about our inner lives when the whole world stands before us and we have the responsibility to make it better for the next generation.

Thank you Sappho, for your amazing poem.
-Curt

We all reach for the sky only to be brought back down to the ground. Wonderful ink.

So eloquent and delicate with your language here. Like a leaf feathering to the ground.

This story started out funny but by the end it got sad and dark … Indeed, a story of true friendship. One friend wanted the other to hear him and the deaf friend wanted to find the other in the desert.
I found it funny how the devil-coyote spoke with a Texan accent, too! 😀

Al

Right on, man. Such an inspiring write! Addiction is very much like a ghost, haunting each moment of our lives. I am so happy you were able to push through and maintain. If you ever had any doubt, this poem is proof, that you absolutely do not need alcohol to conjure beauty and meaning on the page.

The last two lines in the third octet scream truth in my mind. Very, very wise.

Clay

Stay true to yourself and keep on pushing forward. Rock on dude!! Great piece of poetry

I love the honesty in this. What a purge of the soul amigo!
This has so much in it. It had its own evolution.
Just terrific!

That’s poetry for ya folks .. Bloomin brill my friend .. Neville 😎👍

“My pen became a sword
poetry served as pseudo armor”

Amazing how many of us are among this army. Accepting help is so hard. Especially if you’ve rarely been offered a hand. And we’re all kinda programmed to ‘suck it up’…like being human is a weakness. Stripped raw & flushing the wounds here, brutal honesty at its finest, my friend

This poem is raw, honest, and deeply moving. Knowing you wrote it just months into your sobriety makes it even more powerful –your pen becomes both sword and shield, guiding you from darkness to hope. A beautiful testament to resilience and the strength of new beginnings.