Now the calendar has turned about face
grudgingly I give the penultimate nod to November
scenic layers of litter in umber tones for an umbral burial
the earth moulders – inert in stone cold wormholes
though songbird throats are warming up some melodies
my own throat narrows in panic at this headlong hurtle of a pace
hands close over the marled and mindful meditation stone
smooth as toffee but without its mid-summer glimmer
the coruscation that urged me to lift it from layers of beach litter
– after all it is November now
Choosing one of Angie’s 4-word set: November – layers – stone -throat – for the Get Listed November Edition
and also am joining forces with dVerse where Grace features two November poems in Open Link Night #207
PoetryPix 
I feel that darkening time of November in your words here….the time for turning inward and seeking self and healing….lovely!
darkling days Donna – thank you
You too have chosen the November list! And what a wonderful poem you have woven the words into, Laura. You’ve captured that November feeling and I love the lines:
‘scenic layers of litter in umber tones for an umbral burial
the earth moulders – inert in stone cold wormholes
though songbird throats are warming up some melodies’.
great minds Kim – – we are two November novitiates
November is one of my favourite months – my daughter was born on 22nd November!
nothing shines brighter than a birth at this time of year – seals think so too!
Umbral burial… nice. And here we are now, aren’t we? Lovely.
yes here we are Marian – and I have figured out how to follow your blog in the WP reader too 🙂
Laura, I’m sucked in by the o, o, o’s…the umbral tones, the nearness to the earth with the words you’ve chosen. Assonance and clarity really shine here. Thanks for participating and making something beautiful out of bare bones.
oh how observant – had not noticed the Os – they popped out of your bones – thank you Angie!
I loooove assonance in poems. Sooo soooothing, in an unobtrusive way. (Not in a hissing snake way as my spellings might suggest. lol)
take the snake away – I’m sick as an ophidiophobic 🙂
I HATE snakes too (and am coincidentally sick myself today)….I feel ya Laura.
get better sooner than later
Such splendid imagery in this, Laura!💞 I love “smooth as toffee but without its mid-summer glimmer.”
pebbles seem to loose their polish away from the seashore yet I always take one home! thank you Sanaa for such a sweet comment
Let’s all welcome November in its full glory!
let’s at least try!
I love this poem. It bespeaks Noveber. I love November as well, one of my favorite two winter/fall months. Umbral…such an excellent word.
Umbral/threshold – thank you for such a lovely comment
Another November prompt! You wove these words together beautifully…”the earth moulders – inert in stone cold wormholes…” – excellent!
we could not help but pick this one out could we now?!
Exactly!
Love that you can see this in November… for me it’s the most depressing of month… but I do love that other can find it so soothing.
not at all Bjorn – my moods struggle with this penultimate month when the shine starts to go
“scenic layers of litter in umber tones for an umbral burial the earth moulders” Oh I love that line. Lovely piece about a nature season and how one comes to grips or reflects on change.
spot on Susie – and panic sets in when the year seems to ring the changes so rapidly
Umber tones and sombre notes for sure ~
was a peremptory prompt perhaps Grace!
Language and imagery are superb!
lovely comment – thank you
I echo Purplepens comment and would add a beautiful write.
Anna :o]
one of my less cryptical Anna 🙂
Yes, I’m definitely letting go. The “scenic layers of litter in umber tones” claim their rightful place now, and it’s OK. The snow and bright berries will come next, and then a steady, slow melting toward spring. It’s all part of the plan–as dark as November and December can be.
the gardener at one with the seasons Beth – just how it should be
November seems to signal a shutting down of one sort of another. Like your words and imagery,
Elizabeth
it’s closing time indeed Elizabeth which reminds me of a Leonard Cohen song – though quite different
November’s burial phase, nicely themed throughout your poem Laura. Enjoyed !!!
much love…
buried up to our knees in leaves -thank you Gillena
I’m still waiting for the leaves to just let go and come on down so we can move this thing along. Around here, leaves are still green : ) Hi Laura, lovely to meet you. Love your poem:)
and hello to you too – thanks for finding me so I can follow you! Sounds like you are in an Indian Summer which is both bonus and Damocles sword
It certainly feels like that.☺
The days whirl away and make us mindful of our limited time especially as the seasons are less kind now so we seek comfort in those reminders of warmer friendlier times. Beautifully penned.
I think you have hit on another aspect of this time of year – not so much the looking back as the seeing forward to harsher times ahead
Gosh yes, the year has gone so fast !
indeed
I can see how holding a “mindful meditation stone” might keep one focused on the now which is November.
nice observation Frank – it had passed me by!
So evocative of the seasonal dying prevalent in November!
and a happy death when the sun shines through all those colours though
I love especially the last line, Laura. Yes. After all, it is November now. There is something so accepting of a change not desired but necessary.
thank you Sarah – am going reluctantly with the flow – like a leaf caught in November rains and heading for the drain 😉