Altered picture. Base picture found on vacationhomeinteriors.com
Autumn gilds the pattern of her skirt
shirrs her bodice made of sky and clouds
her new-for-winter hat, a snowy white egret
her amber eyes a dream of other falls
when trance beguiled; when love felt gold,
more so than silk brocade, heavier than its threads
trimmed in lace that formed through rocks
jewels in the stream sparkled like a diadem
her rivers carried promises shared with stars
wind heard in distant bells
gongs deep as wells or tinkles of a sleigh in snow
perhaps a whisper murmured low, “not long to go”
Autumn fades at last from gold to gray
remembered, though, those perfect days
© Gay Reiser Cannon * All Rights Reserved
Beachanny's Texas 
Just beautiful… I can relate so much to:
‘remembered, though, those perfect days’
Thanks for sharing such a stunning poem 🙂
Much appreciated! Thank you.
beautiful imagery, Gay! lovely autumn tale
Not very fierce. I suspect it’s not your “cup of tea” this afternoon. But thank you, dear friend, for always stopping by and reading.
nice twist to the last of autumn… picture perfect
Many thanks. It’s finally autumn here at the beach and we’re looking forward to Thanksgiving.
Wonderfully textured in fabrics, sounds and colours… // Peter.
Thank you. A little personification of the season 😉
that whisper is a bit haunting for me, esp when paired with ‘when love was.gold’ and the bit of rememberance there at the end…nicely done gay…
I like that “haunting” – the title from the second line of “Autumn Leaves”. I thought it apropos.
my goodness! i just loooooove the softness in your words, the way it soothes as you read, your images are rich and yet dreamy. i adore this so very much! truly a pleasure to read! I am sharing this in my circle of writers on Google+ if you don’t mind 🙂
Kellie Elmore
http://magicinthebackyard.wordpress.com/2011/11/22/hard-cider/
Why thank you Kellie. I am honored!
Striking poem for its imagery and metaphorical quality. I like how you have her fading into winter.
Autumn my favorite season now has a very metaphorical, nostalgic feel each year. Thanks Victoria.
Beautiful!
Thanks. I liked yours too!
you made me smile at the end… love the images, i am always sad to see autumn go, my favorite season.
and i want that room.
Thank you. I’m wishing you that dormer window!
oh gay – you played the music for her to leave the world like a princess, wrapped in magic in color…beautiful words…you captured her majesty..
Perhaps. She could be a sort of Lady of Shalott 🙂
Lovely, Gay. Cadence, imagery, that gentle concluding line… it’s all there.
Thanks so much Maureen. I always appreciate your comments.
Beautiful…its like sitting at a window, watching the scenes before your eyes, and musing, with longing and joy…
Thank you Mohana – Glad you enjoyed it.
A gorgeously cascading poem– beautifully crafted, Gay. I loved especially–
Autumn gilds the pattern of her skirt
shirrs her bodice made of sky and clouds
her new-for-winter hat, a snowy white egret
her amber eyes a dream of other falls
when trance beguiled; when love felt gold,
more so than silk brocade, heavier than its threads…
gorgeous musicality in this poem. xxxxj http://parolavivace.blogspot.com .
High praise Jenne, thank you.
After Autumn of life is over, expected winter drifts in, and cold, cold. That is how I now interpret your beautifully worded piece, Gay.
I have not been to your place in a long time it seems. Reading this post–I do not know why! Thank You!
PEACE!
You know you’re always welcome here, Steve. I’ve missed you!
Seasonal transitions allude and inspire mystery.
broccade – what a great word – thanks gay
Thanks Arron. Though I’ve left the surreal here, staying very much in the “imagist” framework. I pared the original of at least one word in each line. I think I’ve reduced the adjectives to four counting the hyphenated words as one adjective. I don’t count snowy white as that’s the name of the bird as opposed to the white egret which has different plumage.
I love the rich tapestry woven here and the warmth. great use of color.
Nice write!
Really nicely written. I really enjoyed your illustration, one that carried an exceptionally apt tone, beautiful language and rich imagery. Thanks
Thanks it’s cobbled together. Part of it was a tree, part of it things from a home decorating site. I had a dormer window when I was a young girl and it felt like a tree house. I think back when I was learning to read and the leaves changed outside that window. I wanted this exact effect. I always illustrate AFTER I write my poem, not before.
amazing reverie of Autumn…how it has this effect on us. Well presented here as reminiscence.
the golden days of summer passed.
Autumn fades at last from gold to gray..
Really lovely – it reads musically and softly. This line above makes me smile as I am thinking of no longer coloring my hair and letting the gray just happen.
her rivers carried promises shared with stars….love this line, beautiful poem!!!!!!!!
Lovely images of the season changing…you described it so beautifully.
These lines are lovely:
her amber eyes a dream of other falls
when trance beguiled; when love felt gold,
more so than silk brocade, heavier than its threads
Such quiet beauty, Gay : ) Absolutely loved the entire piece, but like Heaven, I really loved:
“her amber eyes a dream of other falls
when trance beguiled; when love felt gold,
more so than silk brocade, heavier than its threads”
To me, the reflection of the ‘golden age’ of her love…really beautiful….*sniff, sniff : )*
-Eva
This is so lovely. The final stanza echoes the melancholy I often feel as the colors of autumn fade to gray.
The picture painted is so beatiful that it automatically brings a smile to your face. Pretty!
Exquisite! This is poetry at its best. The beautiful and colorful imagry you conjure is soul satisfying…how I would love to spend time in that cozy window seat and write as you do! Lovely work, Gay!
Beautiful welcome of winter … perfect imagery.. I liked it so much…
Shashi
ॐ नमः शिवाय
Om Namah Shivaya
http://shadowdancingwithmind.blogspot.com/2011/11/whispers-sighs.html
At Twitter @VerseEveryDay
My favorite season, and you depicted it with wonderful wording that took me back through the years and memories of autumns past.
“…her amber eyes a dream of other falls
when trance beguiled; when love felt gold,”
I love these lines. Simply beautiful!
The musk-rose in Keats’ autumnal hymn has a lovely, lively scent here Gay, not as heady as spring’s but carrying still enough of that faint note to open the windows wide to this view. Loved the personifications of a season in fullness just before the fade. – Brendan
an exquisite word painting of the change of seasons…beautiful Gay!
Lovely Gay, a touch of November. I liked it a lot.
Lovely evocation of your autumn! I enjoyed the clothing metaphor, sustained just long enough, and then the shift into the sounds, and the final summing up. A beautifully realised piece, and seeming so effortless! 🙂
Gorgeous. Your metaphors are rich enough to luxuriate in. I love how I feel after reading this poem. Absolutely gorgeous…
Winter’s definitely coming…your words are as breathtaking as that gorgeous photo!
Wow… This is so lovely.. autumn looks so beautiful like princess through your muse
gay, i hope that you have a wonderful thanksgiving…smiles…
Gay- This is sad to me, and the ending clenches it ‘from gold to gray’. Blessings to you and yours!