October
Posted by Rob Kistner | Filed under Free Verse, Image, Poetry, prose
October approaches over the horizon, when we will enter our autumn season here in the Pacific Northwest. The cycle of renewal will begin in western Oregon, where I live. The summer’s dry period will end, and agricultural irrigation will cease.
Harvesting explodes in October, including the grape harvest in our many vineyards. A period of renewal will follow the gathering of this autumn bounty, as the soil is left to recover.
The fruit and nut trees, the vines in the vineyards, and the crop fields will begin the slow period of winter revitalization, in anticipation of the growing seasons to come in the new year. The Great Mandala of life turns steady.
The rains that begin in October will work their magic — plumping Oregon’s world-class Christmas tree and holly crops, renewing the sparkle of these holiday icons, readying them for harvest.
Wild nature will also enter a period of recovery and renewal. The flowering plants that have dropped their petals, and the grasses and brush, gone late-summer brown, seek these nurturing rains.
Mighty evergreens pause, conifers drop their cones, and deciduous trees shed their leaves – all go dormant, and rest. The vast Northwest forests are enriched by this period of rejuvenation.
Streams, whose water levels have dropped considerably, will come to new life when rains begin to replenish their flow. Sockeye salmon start their run to the sea, as Chinook begin their spawn. Rainbow, Brook, German Brown, and Cutthroat Trout, as well as the numerous other species of fish become active as the waters rise and cool.
Bear, deer, cougar, elk, coyote, big horn sheep, pronghorn antelope, hawk, osprey, eagle; the varied and plentiful wildlife of our region begin preparation for their unique winter rituals.
October nudges autumn into winter — a peaceful time of restoration here in this breathtakingly beautiful region. A regenerative calm lies upon the lush land, as the season of sky-water arrives to quench nature’s thirst, and revivify her energies.
October
•
as the gardener shades her tend
bending close to nourish and protect
so too nature stoops
to embrace and refresh
her pacific northwest paradise
her autumn shadow upon the land
she leans down
and lets flow life-giving waters
to enrich this lush realm
she covers her beloved eden
in a soft blanket of moist cloud
a shelter from harsh winter
to insure spring’s rich bounty
abundant fruits
vegetables
and nuts
hill-climbing vineyards
towering trees
too numerous to imagine
endless grasses
bushes
berries
and flowers
spring succulent from winter waters
mountain streams
valley rivers
swollen with migrating fish
they journey home
these fresh waters of new birth
birds and animals
flock and gather
embraced by this season
of quiet renewal
in step and harmony
with this cycle
they too will welcome spring
with plentiful new life
a sustaining love
this affair
life
nurtured to witness
the eventual spring
• • •
rob kistner © 2008
photos:
• Oregon Autumn rain on conifer needles
• Autumn at Sokol Blosser Vineyards, Willamette Valley Oregon
• Sockeye salmon, Deschutes River, Oregon
• Autumn Cascade Mountain Lake, Oregon
August 10th, 2008 at 11:19 pm
your prose and your poem show how intimately you know this landscape!
i listened to a few sound pieces–cool! i’m trying to figure that technology out …
August 10th, 2008 at 11:56 pm
lovely autumnal collage…
August 11th, 2008 at 3:17 am
Oh, we chose the same month! :o) These are gorgeous photographs, and I enjoyed the strong message of “rebirth” in this piece, which I don’t generally associate with the fall months as much as spring. Very nice!
August 11th, 2008 at 5:30 am
Wow. Very descriptive. You give a wonderful picture of the Northwest in autumn to this Ohio girl.
-Nicole
August 11th, 2008 at 6:38 am
wow. wish I were there to see it all.glad you are able to tell it all.
August 11th, 2008 at 7:02 am
Yeah, you make me wish I could go there. A beautiful poem accompanied by beautiful photographs.
August 11th, 2008 at 7:06 am
Art Predator -
I’m pleased this spoke to you in a clear voice…
As far as recording spoken word presentations, if you go here on the ReadWritePoem blog, and scroll down to read both of my comments — you will discover how I do it, and what I use. Hope it is helpful to you.
…Rob
August 11th, 2008 at 7:19 am
Juliet -
Thank you…
August 11th, 2008 at 7:25 am
DP -
Thank you…
I too relate ‘rebirth’ to Spring. If you read my prose and poetry more closely here, you will see that I presented the Fall/Winter period, which opens in October, as a time of rest, recovery, renewal, regeneration, rejuvenation of the land — in anticipation of the coming Spring ‘rebirth’.
…Rob
August 11th, 2008 at 7:29 am
Nicloe -
I am glad this piece reached you…
I grew up in Ohio, as did my wife. We’ve been out here in the Pacific Northwest, in Oregon specifically, for 18 years — and we love it!
…Rob
August 11th, 2008 at 7:30 am
ren -
My pleasure…
Nice to have you stop by again — it’s been a while.
August 11th, 2008 at 7:33 am
Nathan -
I’m happy this touched you…
You should come to the Pacific Northwest for a visit, you would enjoy yourself. Come in late September through early October — it’s especially gorgeous here at that time.
…Rob
August 11th, 2008 at 7:34 am
A lovely description of changing seasons and the cycles of the earth.
August 11th, 2008 at 7:42 am
Christine -
I appreciate your kind words…
…Rob
August 11th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Yes a lovely description and beautifully illustrated.
August 11th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Jo -
Thank you sincerely…
August 12th, 2008 at 6:01 am
Very pretty - I love all the pictures. October is my favorite month!
August 12th, 2008 at 8:38 am
Oh my goodness, this was wonderful. How I long for the beauty of the fall months after having lived so long now in Florida. I suppose there is beauty here as well, but nothing can beat the latter months of the year in places out in the norhtwest or the northeast.
Thanks, Rob. It’s nice to visit here.
August 13th, 2008 at 10:35 am
as if you laid a blanket of peace across the blank page filled with color and life… truly beautiful… the great mandala of life turns steady sez it all…
August 13th, 2008 at 10:49 am
Twitches -
Thank you…
August 13th, 2008 at 10:51 am
Regina Clare Jane -
Thank you…
…it’s nice to have you visit!
The world is a beautiful place, each region with its own unique splendor.
August 13th, 2008 at 10:52 am
OMB -
Thank you very much… I love your descriptive flare…
As Joni calls it, “The Circle Game”.
August 13th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
hi rob!
haven’t been here for awhile and i’m so glad i came to visit. i’ve always wanted to visit the pacific northwest, especially oregon. beautiful words and images!
~odessa
August 14th, 2008 at 1:29 am
Odessa -
I’m so pleased you stopped to visit…
You should make the journey to Oregon, and when you do, take the trip along the Oregon Coast on Highway 101 — breathtaking!
…Rob