It feels as if we are introducing you to Autumn. Slowly, and with care. Small hands, fingers fisted before bursting open like early fireworks. Breath-taking. Quite literally. Little face, big eyes, shadows for brows. All of these things change as the season steps in, lifts you from your bassinet, pinks your cheeks.
Look– at how much you’ve grown, at how the leaves have turned so quickly, these layers forming one over the other. Breath, and breeze, across your vocal chords. Outside a storm is cooing through the branches, changing notes, the strength of it lifting tree roots from their standings. When the winds settle, we sweep all the chaos beneath carpets, smooth the lines till their crisp. Pat you stomach. Tell you, that this fire is good.
The sky is beaten grey,
the metallic sheen of swords
unsheathed and waiting.
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Published by Carol J Forrester
Carol J Forrester is a writer and a history geek. Her debut collection 'It's All In The Blood' came out November 2019.
She has a 2:1 BA degree in history from Bath Spa University, enjoys judo at least twice a week, and tries to attend poetry events around the Midlands when she can.
Her flash fiction story ‘Glorious Silence’ was named as River Ram Press’ short story of the month for August 2014 and her short story ‘A Visit From The Fortune Teller’ has been showcased on the literary site Ink Pantry. Her poems ‘Sunsets’ and ‘Clear Out‘ were featured on Eyes Plus Words, and two of her poems were included in the DVerse Poets Pub Publication ‘Chiaroscuro’ which is available for purchase on amazon.Her poem ‘Until The Light Gets In‘ was accepted and published at The Drabble and her poem ‘Newborn’ was published by Ink Sweat & Tears.
She has been lucky enough to write guest posts for sites such as Inky Tavern and Song of The Forlorn and has hosted a number of guest bloggers on her site Writing and Works.
View all posts by Carol J Forrester
Writing and Works 
Congratulations on your baby girl! She sounds warm and snug by the fire.
Very elegant! I enjoyed the juxtaposition of the intimate with the detachment of not knowing the addressee, of wondering where this soft and cool autumnal musing was going to take me. I wasn’t prepared for the silvery haiku, though – sharp and chilled to the touch, like these sweeping autumn nights.
Small correction–“they’re” for “their”. I loved the poem, and it was clever using the babe as protagonist. Hard to know what fear entails for the infant mind, where wonder trumps all else.
Well that was cleverly done!
Beautiful, and congratulations to you!
Fine work, Carol. Love how the seasonal change lifts the babe, pinks the cheeks. Thanks.
Thank you Ron.
How skillfully you weave the wistful imagery of Autumn with the pleasant voice of an adoring parent. How marvelously you evoke fear in the contrasting haiku! Brava, Carol!
Thank you Frank. I’m so glad it seems to work.
This was wonderfully written. Congratulations.
Thank you
You are welcome.
Beautiful, simply beautiful.
Beautiful writing, Carol. I love this. What a vision of autumn. ❤
I love this, and how the haiku really evokes every parent’s fear of what can go wrong.