Raking in Autumn
Leaves blow and crinkle as I sway. I dance
with the rake. Round and round the yard we go.
Each step sends plumes of leaves skywards to dance,
to twirl and fall in piles at my toes.
Laying my partner down, I climb onto
the peeling red picnic table. I spin
round on the autumnal stage. The solo
dancer takes her last leap. The expandin’
pile of leaves cushions my fall. Leaves twirl like,
red ballerinas caught in an updraft,
and gently land on the pile near my bike,
I tossed leaves and watch them fall as I laughed.
Bruised from twigs that infiltrated the pile,
I brush off my pants, cast the leaves a smile.
in response to Imaginary Garden with Real Toad’s prompt: Falling Into Lines – Weekend Mini Challenge
Melinda Kucsera - USA Today Bestselling Author of Epic Fantasy Adventures 
What a delight.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! That is my aim in life, to delight with words and bring joy wherever I go. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nicely and tightly crafted, wonderful economy of language and the dance is sure-footed. I especially liked the waking crunch of twigs in the pile. How I remember that detail from so many decades ago. Great to read you stuff at Toads.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! Glad I found you guys
LikeLike
Beautiful….I too would like to jump in the middle of the biggest piles of leaves…celebrate my childish side
LikeLiked by 1 person
go for it! It’s one of life’s little pleasures
LikeLike
Sounds like a child (or inner child!) having fun. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
the adult in me likes jumping in piles as much as my inner child! 🙂 Thank you!
LikeLike
I like this Autumn dance
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLike
The colors of the season can be really inviting.
I’d like to add that I am quite impressed with how perfectly and easily the rhythm comes to join your words.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLike
So much fun to dance like that, It’s like being a child again.. It’s been a long time since I used the leaves as cushion… Wonderfully fun
LikeLiked by 1 person
I recommend it! Just be sure to root out those twigs before jumping in do the leaf pile makes a proper cushion! 🙂
LikeLike
There is something youthful and spiritually uplifting about dancing with a rake through a pile of leaves…love the imagery , Melinda!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! Though I actually indulged in the behavior described in the poem. 😉 I can’t walk by a pile of leaves–big or small–without stomping/jumping on it. My inner child demands it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am like that with leaves and puddles of water :)….you are welcome!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Let’s not get into puddles. I am endlessly fascinated by the reflections in them and the way they distort pieces of the world.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, that is awesome!! There is a large one that develops right across from my house…:)
LikeLike
Thanks for this sweet and fun poem–you describe an experience that many can relate to (though perhaps they do not approach it so fancifully). Super charming–and makes one feel like dancing. k.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. I’m fanciful through and through. I just can’t help it and most of the time, i don’t want to!
LikeLike
Beautiful imagery! I could really picture this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. Jumping in the piles of leaves gave me the motivation to do the raking. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person