poem, poetry

Battle of Autumn

Battle of Autumn

Red maple leaves down
blanket the ground hide the grass
make yard alien

A landscape of red
no relief for my tired eyes
scan for life on mars

I stifle a yawn
I blink away martian-scape
see my parents yard

I pick up my rake
shadow box with aliens
reality slips

In a blink it’s gone
I stand on another world
earth I left behind

Numb hands twirl the rake
spin it to wake aching arms
scan for enemies

Wind knocks bags of leaves
black bags sized to hold bodies
spills my hard work out

I see only worms
man-sized and bleeding red leaves
stab it with my rake

I’m fighting sandworms
I stand on Arrakis, Dune,
only in my mind

Where’s Paul Atreides?
Frank Herbert’s Dune in my ears
audiobook plays

Need some back up here…
kwisatz haderach, you hear?
I’m surrounded now.

stab the second ‘worm’
knock it into a third one
trash bag bleeds more leaves

A door creaks open
mom steps out onto the stoop
shakes her head at me

Dune’s sandy wastes melt
reveal my parent’s backyard
audio book pauses

bleeding worms become
toppled trash bags pouring leaves
reality bites

An afternoon’s work
lost to imagination
boredom’s choice weapon

I set down the rake
shove leaves back into trash bags
like nothing happened

~ ~ ~

I love being surrounded by stories, hence my love of audiobooks. I tend to fall into them when doing menial tasks, letting the story play like a movie in my head. However, I never get so lost in the story that I lose sight of the task I am doing. Sorry to disappoint πŸ™‚

If you have never read Dune or its original five sequels, go out and get a copy! You won’t be disappointed.

 

 

 

 

 

24 thoughts on “Battle of Autumn”

  5. I love Dune! One of my favorite sci-fi books of all time. πŸ™‚ I own the original copy and the second edition original copy. How I got my hands on it, I don’t know but I love the stories and great influence the book has on me. πŸ™‚

    I love these lines your created:

    I pick up my rake
    shadow box with aliens
    reality slips

    In a blink it’s gone
    I stand on another world
    earth I left behind

    I can so relate to this. One day I’ll leave earth behind and further my exploration into a whole new world of alien life and understanding. πŸ™‚

    Two-thumbs way up! Melinda. πŸ™‚ I’m back! and with a new poem. πŸ™‚

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I love Dune too πŸ™‚ that’s wonderful that you have original copies. Thank you for your praise. I’m glad you’re back. I read your poem; I’m still working through it. I have no doubt that if there is a way to leave earth, you’ll find it.

      Liked by 1 person

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