Autumn's promise

10/10/2025

morning walk

Hello, dear blog friends...

In my part of the world, autumn is everywhere visible. Our neighbor had a field of pumpkins, and this past week, he loaded his harvest onto a truck. And it was good he did, because we are under a flood watch today and tomorrow. Who knew it could flood in the high desert?!

This week, Colleen Chesebro invites us to focus on the changing season, and specifically to write a poem about autumn. This season has always been a favorite of mine. Not too cold or hot, it is perfect for long walks or hiking or simply sitting outdoors.

My poem focuses on the movement of time and suggests that autumn prompts reflection. I hope you enjoy my simple response to the prompt.

photo from Canva

Have a wonderful week, dear friends! If the flood sidesteps us, I'm going to visit our local Farmers' Market. It's always a fun experience. 🌞

25 Comments

Ange link

10/10/2025 06:05:16

Gwen, this beautifully captures the transition from day to night, intertwining themes of reflection and the cyclical nature of life, it evokes a lovely sense of awakening and reflection 🩷

Gwen M. Plano

10/10/2025 11:52:57

Thank you so much, Ange. How kind of you to respond as you have. ❤️

Priscilla Bettis link

10/11/2025 05:50:28

I enjoyed your poem, Gwen. And that pumpkin field picture is so pretty!

Gwen M. Plano

10/11/2025 10:03:38

I'm glad you enjoyed it, Priscilla. Like you, I love seeing pumpkins in the fields. 🌞

Annette Aben link

10/11/2025 06:19:08

makes me want to do an Autumn dance

Gwen M. Plano

10/11/2025 10:04:23

Once upon a time, I knew how to square dance. That would be fun, wouldn't it? 🌞

Dan Antion link

10/11/2025 07:09:51

"...flood in the high desert?" That is something I would never have guessed was even possible, Gwen.

Lovely photo and poetry. The picture of autumn.

Gwen M. Plano

10/11/2025 10:07:58

Thank you, Dan. The flood hasn't arrived yet, but if/when it does, I'll be sure to share photos. At our elevation (about 5,000 feet), it's hard to imagine it. I grew up in the desert in CA, and it flooded a couple of times -- but we were below Sea Level. 🌞

Jacqui link

10/11/2025 08:18:51

All those pumpkins! I'm glad they're all safe from a storm.

Gwen M. Plano

10/11/2025 10:08:52

Wonderful thought, Jacqui! I suspect the farmer follows the forecasts. 🌞

Liz Gauffreau link

10/11/2025 08:22:23

That second stanza spoke directly to me! I hope the flooding doesn't spoil your Farmers Market plans.

Gwen M. Plano

10/11/2025 10:10:37

Thank you, Liz. The weather is so unpredictable right now that I've not left the house. I suspect they cancelled for the day. 🌞

Freya Pickard link

10/11/2025 09:41:23

I love your tanka, Gwen! I hope the floods are not as bad as expected. Enjoy the Farmer's Market. I love watching autumn too - here it's only just touching the trees - we're too damp and mild still for frost!

Gwen M. Plano

10/11/2025 10:11:51

Thank you, Freya. So far, we've only had rain, so I think all will be well. 🌞

John W. Howell link

10/11/2025 14:30:01

A lovely poem for the fall, Gwen.

Gwen M. Plano

10/11/2025 19:00:12

Thank you, John.

Timothy W. Dittmer link

10/11/2025 20:36:50

Yes, Gwen, autumn is here. Your poem is wonderfully descriptive of an autumn morning. The field of pumpkins captures my attention. They'll harvest them all before the monsoon starts, I suppose.

Gwen M. Plano

10/12/2025 06:15:25

Thank you, Tim. It's a beautiful time of the year. 🌞

Thomas Wikman link

10/11/2025 21:17:01

It is a beautiful autumn poem. Here in Dallas there's not much sign of an Autumn yet. It is still warm and green, but you can see autumn coming from all of the Halloween decorations. Stay safe from any floods.

Gwen M. Plano

10/12/2025 06:18:54

Thank you, Thomas. The rains have stopped, and thankfully, our corner of the world did not experience flooding. So, all is well here. 🌞

Colleen link

10/12/2025 11:44:56

Gwen, I just heard about all the rain heading for AZ. Stay safe. Your tanka are perfect for the season. How's your fall color this year? We're experiencing a wide range of temperatures. No fall color to speak of. We're in a wicked drought. 💜

Gwen M. Plano

10/13/2025 11:50:27

Thank you, Colleen. The trees are alive with color, and I love seeing them. As it turned out, we had wind and rain (and still do), but no flood. Prescott got more weather than we did, and areas south of us flooded. We were fortunate. 😊

selma

10/12/2025 20:58:18

Have a wonderful new week, dear Gwen. What a lovely photo you found... Your words make the photo even more amazing. Beautiful. Happy Autumn. xo

Gwen M. Plano

10/13/2025 11:51:10

Thank you, dear Selma. Very kind of you to say. 😊

Miriam Hurdle link

10/14/2025 19:00:18

Your neighbor loaded the pumpkins onto a truck just in time, Gwen! Who knows what the flood would do to the labor? Your autumn poem is excellent, reflecting this time of the year.

Autumn's promise

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