Poetry Friday round-up is with Jama at Jama’s Alphabet Soup.
Autumn takes its time coming to South Louisiana. It comes in small, unnoticeable ways like the browning of cypress trees, or in larger, violent ways as in a storm leading a cold front. So here we are on the second day of November and temperatures have dropped to the 50’s, a pleasant change from the 80’s to 90’s of the previous six months. I so envy the images of orange and red fall leaves filling the trees.
Since we have not changed our clocks quite yet, the sun is coming up later each morning, and I’ve noticed a heron on the bayou sitting right in the direct ray of the rising sun. I tried to capture him with my telephoto lens, but he heard me and flew off. No matter. I can still write him into a poem.
Carol Varsalona curates a gallery at her blog site for every season. Currently she is collecting images and poems for Abundant Autumn. I borrowed a photograph of a heron at the beach from fellow poet (and better photographer than me) Wendi Romero to use as a backdrop to my poem. I love how the challenges of Poetry Friday peeps push me to spread my writing wings.
Reflections on the Teche 
So pretty. I love it. Connie Currie
Stunning and beautiful, Margaret!
Just gorgeous! Both words and image. Thanks for sharing your Louisiana fall morning. xo
I was right there with you. Lovely image.
Oh my, I would love to see a heron every day! I don’t know which image I love more, so guess I love them all, Margaret, that beam of sunlight, the paddling by, & “the woodwinds waking up the day”.
I am right with you on envying the foliage photos, but I enjoy never being cold, so I content myself with looking at the photos. Friends have sent me some beautiful ones. I absolutely love your photo and poem – they are beautiful. Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
Gorgeous, Margaret! One day I’d love to witness a bayou morning and hear those woodwinds for myself.
You’ve transported me via your rich poem Margaret and the sparkling image–they were meant to be together. Thanks for this literary and visual feast!
Margaret, the peaceful sight of the heron is something that I have not witnessed so I am grateful for your autumn morning image poem that will grace #AbundantAutumn.
A beautiful image and a beautiful poem! I love the alliteration in the last two lines of each stanza, especially” woodwinds waking up the day.”
What a difference from my own home, where it’s cold and wet from now until next May! I’ll hide away in your beam of sunlight, at least for a moment. 🙂
I love the mood of your poem, Margaret, with the perfect photo accompaniment. What a beautiful image you’ve shared!
Wonderful words, wonderful image. You had me right there with you.
Lovely poem, Margaret – especially your mourning dove morning, which we get to enjoy up here, as well. “Woodwinds waking the day” is perfect.