leaves dancing
in a brisk breeze
on an almost-bare tree
are joyous at autumn’s wake
they tremble, ready
to be free, to sleep
with past seasons —
dying, they celebrate
the awakening of winter
—Terri Guillemets
seasons
Compensations for the cold
on a rainy day
watching winter’s last leaves fall
from my cozy bed
—Terri Guillemets
Barely knowing
Spring and summer come with a lush layer of foliage over reality, but when things start falling away in the autumn and get bare and stark in the winter we’re forced to look at things more as they really are, including ourselves.
—Terri Guillemets
Tilted
Earth tilts toward Winter
My heart goes tilty too
The summer-fever cools
To a more reflective hue
—Terri Guillemets
Enclosed
Our bodies were meant
for the sun, the rain,
the gusty winds,
starlight and moon baths,
fresh air and seasons —
So why do we trap ourselves
in indoor cages?
If we can’t hear the
birds chirp, feel the breezes,
how are we to be refreshed,
to heal, to know the world
beyond the borders
of our bodies?
—Terri Guillemets
October-blood
This time of year, October-blood
runs through the veins of autumn —
a slowing heartbeat, longer breaths
shorter days, golden light, scarlet leaves
warm hearts and sanguine thoughts
—Terri Guillemets
Mocking my insomnia
We have now entered the birds-chirping-all-night season.
—Terri Guillemets
Oh amazing desert, let’s rejoice together!
entire continents of grey-white clouds
hovering serenely in an enormous spring-blue sky
a soaring raven caws out of its element
why are you this far south, beautiful bird?
then all is quiet but for a distant plane
heading to who-knows-where—
what a gorgeous afternoon!
way too beautiful for negative thoughts—
listening to subtle sounds of nature’s energies
oooh, sudden chilly-breeze goosebumps
coolness swirling through sunlit seventy degrees
a day of awe and eerily silent excitement—
winter and spring overlapping at the seams
—Terri Guillemets
Blend & blur
Late winter and early spring blend and blur
in pleasant days and chilly nights,
penetrating sun and gentle cool breezes
with stirrings of life, subtle and green.
Mornings that light ever earlier rouse us, but
sunsets that still come in evening’s youth lull.
—Terri Guillemets
Desert winter departing
Early February in the desert—
The sun is springtime warmth
The breeze, winter’s leftovers
—Terri Guillemets
Waking welcome
Sun coaxing life
from the earth
with its warmth —
Grow, thrive, breathe
green things of the land
wake from your
winter’s nap and
joyously reach
for the spring—
Colors burst
into vibrant being
fresh fireworks
on verdant stems of life
—Terri Guillemets
November storm
First cold-weather storm of the season
Yellow leaves flying off windy trees
Birds pecking out a last-minute snack
Sudden rain pelting shivering shrubs
—Terri Guillemets
October’s Autumn
October’s Autumn
casts a gentle light
and a calm serenity
before the stark
barrenness of Winter
is born to November
—Terri Guillemets