It’s been another hit-or-miss week working with #Inktober/#Poemtober. I’ve really liked knowing the prompts are there, but sometimes the inspiration hasn’t been. Isn’t it weird how some words can feel “dead” while others seem to brim with possibility? And those same “dead” words might easily reanimate at a different time or place, when seen through a different lens?
At any rate, this past weekend, my daughter mentioned that she’d been participating in #Inktober. Yesterday, she shared her entry for “wild” with me:
It, together with the arrival of a fierce storm, inspired this poem.
Autumn Storm
outside the wild wind roars
leaves swirl in tornado torrents
the storm prowls like a lion
lashing the earth with mighty paws
Molly Hogan ©2019
Now that the storm has passed, there are far more leaves on the ground than in the trees, but to date, this fall has been particularly spectacular. Time and again, I’ve been stopped in my tracks by the beauty of autumn in New England.
brilliant baubles
leaves ornament the trees
fall’s parting gift
Molly Hogan © 2019
I hope your days are also filled with beauty.
This week’s Poetry Friday Roundup is hosted by Jama Rattigan at her amazing blog, Jama’s Alphabet Soup. Make sure to stop by and see what Jama’s serving up this week. It’s sure to be delicious!
Nix the comfort zone 
Our days are filled with so much beauty. Thanks for sharing yours!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow! Fall in the east is spectacular! I love the colorful baubles that nature leaves in your place! 🍁
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m not sure if it’s more spectacular than usual, or if I’m just really tuned into it, but at times it almost takes my breath away!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! I love living in a place with four seasons, and fall’s probably my favorite.
LikeLike
Molly, the unfortunate part about the storm that hit us, too, is that the magnificent tree that I look at daily has had many of its brilliant leaves gushed away. It’s too early for that to happen! I love seeing photos of autumn in other states. Your last photo and poem are a great combo. Therefore, I hope you say yes to me taking a screenshot of the pair for my Abundant Autumn Gallery.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’d love to have them in your Gallery, Carol, and am glad you think they’re a good fit. Thanks!
LikeLike
These photographs are breathtaking. I love the glorious colour this time of year, but when the leaves fall and the branches are barren, I can’t help but feel kind of melancholy.
Your final poem – oh those baubles!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fall always feels a bit melancholy to me as well.
LikeLike
Love your daughter’s drawing, Molly. And this: “lashing the earth with mighty paws” is brilliant! Who cares about the misses as long as you’ve got those hits. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! I was so excited to learn my daughter was participating in Inktober. I’m hoping I can figure out another dual effort soon 🙂
LikeLike
Oh wow, what beautiful photos — spectacular foliage and views — definitely “fall’s parting gift.”
Glad you were also inspired to write a poem after seeing your daughter’s sketch (love the lion metaphor) — “mighty paws.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Jama! It was a serendipitous metaphor–word prompt, sketch and storm combined to inspire 🙂
LikeLike
I get what you’re saying about how some word-prompts really strike you and some leave you cold. It’s all the way that your creative mind is running. Very cool that you used your daughter’s leonine wildness as inspiration!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like that phrase, Tabatha–“The way that your creative mind is running.” It makes me think about having parallel minds–or to get mathematical, not exactly parallel, because they do intersect in places….oh, now I’m rambling, but still intrigued with the thought…
LikeLike
Oh, gosh. It’s beautiful where you are. I agree with you and your daughter (such talent!) The lion should belong to October, not April!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Laura! All those tawny leaves do argue for lion’s place in October!
LikeLike
Gorgeous photos. And hooray for your daughter’s inspiration–I especially love the final two lines of your stormy poem.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Buffy! Congrats again on your upcoming publication. It looks wonderful!
LikeLike
Thank you for sharing your poem! Don’t let this time of hit & miss get to you. This poem you’ve shared shows a good hit! Thank you also for sharing the photos. They are wonderful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Tim! I celebrate the hits when I can find them :), even when they may be few and far between! I appreciate your stopping by and commenting.
LikeLike
love that word, lashing. It’s so powerful…like the poem. October is kicking my butt. I have to remember daily to forgive myself for what I cannot get to. Love your photos. The foggy photo just calls to me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The butt-kicking is ramping up here–conferences this coming week and multiple submission deadlines. Not sure how that’s all going to pan out! (I haven’t had a chance to read your poetic response to my photo, but am looking forward to it!) For now, I’m off to the library….
LikeLike
WOW! Thanks for the gift of your photos (and poems, too, of course)! We hit peak color all of a sudden, too. Your poems are good reminders to enjoy the season while we’ve got it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It does seem to pass by so quickly!
LikeLike
Oh…those photos of your New England Fall are glorious. We’re having a pretty spectacular fall here in IN, too. I love how your daughter’s sketch gave you inspiration for wild.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was really excited to know that she was following the prompts, too.
LikeLike
Gorgeous photos. Your poems are amazing. I especially love this line,
“lashing the earth with mighty paws.” Just beautiful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Linda–it was such fun how all the elements came together–prompt, sketch and storm!
LikeLike
Your photos of autumn’s “brilliant baubles” are gorgeous, as always, Molly. I love how you combined the “wild wind” of that storm with your daughter’s drawing to create a terrific poem!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m hoping to write a couple more poems with her photos, but this week of conferences has thrown me for a loop!
LikeLike
Your photos and your inktober poems are inspiring. I fell off the writing last week when I was helping my daughter with her new baby. I hope to get back to it this week.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m so glad you enjoyed the time with your family–there’s the magic in life!
LikeLiked by 1 person
In Upstate New York where I live, fall has been totally lovely, not unlike the amazing pictures you posted. I love that the leaves are “fall’s parting gifts.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! The leaves are falling fast and furious now, and there are far more bare trees now—-they look so chilly!
LikeLike
A lovely lion/poem pairing, Molly, and I’m also in love with those new England fall scenes.
LikeLike