Autumn Leaves

The leaf turns shades of gold and

Crimson, blending with his brothers and sisters…

The little boy runs in the park, laughing;

Chased by autumn leaves…

The leaf is touched, softly, slowly, the

Wind pulls at him like a lover...

The confused boy looks out the window at his

Home receding into the past…

The leaf and stem are separated, he

Dances on the sea of wind…

The frightened boy sees the monster coming,

A tree branch wielded in his grip…

The leaf spins slowly, a nomad

Drifting without a care…

The defiant boy runs through the forest, his

Imagination running wild…

The leaf spins a final time, before

Crashing toward the ground, forgotten…

The restless boy wanders the streets, his

Dreams escape his grasp like mist…

The leaf falls at his feet, a token

Reminder of his future…

The somber boy stands in the plain, undying;

Betrayed by autumn leaves…

Bard Constantine

Sept. 2009

Comments: 55

Ruthi C. Sep 30, 2009, 1:16am EDT

Betrayed indeed, by the monster and you have done well in your parallel. As always, an excellent write, Bard.

Bard Constantine Sep 30, 2009, 1:18am EDT

Thank you, Ruthi...

reply to this comment

Jennifer Lee Sep 30, 2009, 1:18am EDT

A melancholy piece with beautiful imagery. Excellent, original use of the the leaf creating memories and reminders. The ending is powerful.

Jennifer Lee Sep 30, 2009, 1:19am EDT

I love it and featured it in The Poet's Circle.

Bard Constantine Sep 30, 2009, 1:19am EDT

Thank you so much, Jen...

reply to this comment

Franklin Newman Sep 30, 2009, 1:19am EDT

Yes. Mislead by the wind and the leaves, and lost in such a fantasy, he now can never go home. Welcome to Wonderland, where nightmares turn to life.

What a brilliant poem.

Bard Constantine Sep 30, 2009, 1:22am EDT

Thank you, sir. It is very much a tale of fear and fantasy, the realm of which I dwell...

Franklin Newman Oct 2, 2009, 1:15am EDT

As do I.

reply to this comment

Robert - just a simple man - B. Sep 30, 2009, 2:12am EDT

No one works parallelism like you. Another Bard exclusive. Another very good Bard exclusive. Yes, brilliant.

Bard Constantine Sep 30, 2009, 2:00pm EDT

Thank you, Robert...

reply to this comment

Elizabeth R. Sep 30, 2009, 2:41am EDT

Beautiful. Thank you for sharing these thoughts.

Bard Constantine Sep 30, 2009, 2:01pm EDT

Thank you...

reply to this comment

Kushal Poddar Sep 30, 2009, 7:51am EDT

Here fantasy has blended in real images and wonderfully colored my mind.

purple moss on a hand

Bard Constantine Sep 30, 2009, 2:01pm EDT

Without fantasy, reality would be agony...

reply to this comment

Purrrrrrrrrrr~Genki dashite~Nantoka naru-yo! S. Sep 30, 2009, 8:43am EDT

light and shade~hues blended through prismatic emotives~

Bard Constantine Sep 30, 2009, 2:01pm EDT

Yes...

reply to this comment

Purrrrrrrrrrr~Genki dashite~Nantoka naru-yo! S. Sep 30, 2009, 8:43am EDT

Thank you for posting to GutterGirls~

reply to this comment

Erin O'Riordan Sep 30, 2009, 9:13am EDT

Melancholy, yes, but beautifully conceived.

Bard Constantine Sep 30, 2009, 2:02pm EDT

Thank you...

reply to this comment

Ann M. (Site Scryer) Sep 30, 2009, 10:14am EDT

Beautifully bittersweet. I love the way the boy and the leaf follow a parallel path until the last two lines, when they part ways. It's as if the boy has suddenly become an adult.

Thank you for posting to The Surreal Circus.

Bard Constantine Sep 30, 2009, 2:10pm EDT

You read into this well, Ann. Thank you...

reply to this comment

sally g. Sep 30, 2009, 10:45am EDT

this is very good. I liked it.

Bard Constantine Sep 30, 2009, 2:10pm EDT

Thank you...

reply to this comment

Sharon P. Sep 30, 2009, 1:20pm EDT

Very beautiful and vivid imagery.

Bard Constantine Sep 30, 2009, 2:11pm EDT

Thank you, Sharon...

Sharon P. Sep 30, 2009, 2:47pm EDT

Your welcome Bard.

reply to this comment

A. F. Stewart Sep 30, 2009, 3:01pm EDT

A wonderful, melancholic poem and I loved the contrasting verses.

Bard Constantine Oct 1, 2009, 4:15am EDT

Thank you, Ms. Stewart...

reply to this comment

Angela A. Sep 30, 2009, 3:14pm EDT

Wonderful tribute to such a colorful season!
Thanks for posting to my group, Anythingwriting

Bard Constantine Oct 1, 2009, 4:15am EDT

Thank you, Angela...

reply to this comment

Chas Andrews Sep 30, 2009, 4:41pm EDT

thanks! (sorry, kinda rushed)

Bard Constantine Oct 1, 2009, 4:16am EDT

I know the feeling. Thanks...

reply to this comment

roger s. Oct 1, 2009, 5:57am EDT

Love it ,thanks for posting

Bard Constantine Oct 1, 2009, 6:00pm EDT

thanks for reading...

reply to this comment

Sandre M. Oct 1, 2009, 12:23pm EDT

Beautiful parallelism, Bard. Strong as the smell of the earth in the fall.

Bard Constantine Oct 1, 2009, 6:00pm EDT

Thank you, Sandre...

reply to this comment

EDWINA (MISSIE) B. Oct 1, 2009, 6:13pm EDT

very wonderfull poem.thanks for sharing

Bard Constantine Oct 3, 2009, 6:50pm EDT

Thank you for reading...

reply to this comment

Carrie Marie P. Oct 1, 2009, 7:05pm EDT

This brought up sorrow in me... then again.. I do not like Autumn.. reminds me of death.

Bard Constantine Oct 3, 2009, 6:52pm EDT

I find it both melancholy and beautiful... peaceful.

reply to this comment

Sheila Deeth Oct 1, 2009, 7:30pm EDT

I loved the boy, his life and mood as leaves.

Bard Constantine Oct 3, 2009, 6:52pm EDT

I loved the boy as well...

reply to this comment

Sandi S. Oct 1, 2009, 7:54pm EDT

a nomad...

I like that.

A beautiful, serene poem.

Thanks, Bard.

Bard Constantine Oct 3, 2009, 6:53pm EDT

Thank you, Sandi. I appear to be a nomad on Gather, since I still can't seem to post regularly...

Sandi S. Oct 3, 2009, 7:21pm EDT

Me either.

Only when inspiration comes.

reply to this comment

(Jasper,(Disciple for Christ. w. Oct 2, 2009, 7:46pm EDT

An awesome poem Bard, C

Bard Constantine Oct 3, 2009, 6:53pm EDT

Thanks, Jasper...

reply to this comment

Richard B. Oct 3, 2009, 5:16pm EDT

i like, thanks, again

Bard Constantine Oct 3, 2009, 6:53pm EDT

Thank you, Richard...

reply to this comment

Charity M. Oct 6, 2009, 10:59am EDT

((( "Fall"...the name it was given...leaves twirl eloquently light as a feather--lifeless. No more the draw in the warmth of the Sun, nor the dew. Hi Bard, I'll return someday...stopped by to see your writings..Take care. )))