Fall in the Blue Ridge
Finest photographers
Tooth-pick thin heels piercing the leaves
Shiny leather boots caught in the frost
Mistress of duotones and brass collodion cameras
With polished legs elegant inside faintly blushing tights
Master of snake-tongue lightning and
Chocolate shadow
Fail to capture the colors. I say the evergreens
Streak the tumbling hues with clarity. I say the
Trees blaze rich gold
That the smears and daubs snap against your tongue
Explode like fireworks caught between your teeth. I say the
Shadows are dark ochre and undiscovered green
That the branches dress in premature snowflakes
Fringes of thick yellow plait line the ponds and creeks.
Majestic world!
Maple leaves against the sky forsythia
I am queen, penning vibrancy into dull ink.
Photo by Raymond Rasmusson
Artist/Poet_JayMoraShihadeh
Quite an ecstatic revelry and majestic painting of a crisp and beautiful fall day in Appalachia!
Jaya Avendel
Thank you, Jay!
Karalee
This is another beautifully written poem & I love all the imagery of Fall
Her Digital Coffee
This is such beautiful and vivid imagery. I felt as though I were dropped into another world witnessing this! Thank you for sharing!
luvgoodcarp
I love your concluding line:
“I am queen, penning vibrancy into dull ink.” Just wonderful. And the Blue Ridge is stunningly beautiful.
Jaya Avendel
Agreed! Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful thoughts.
Jewish Young Professional "JYP"
Stunning imagery, from those high-heeled boots piercing the leaves (“piercing” is such a great verb!) all the way to the end
Jaya Avendel
Thank you! Love that you enjoyed my verb choices. 🥰
Raji (@journeyintofantasy)
Absolutely loved this one Jaya! The descriptions are so vivid and it paints such a beautiful picture of fall!
Della Driscoll
I’m in love with this!! SO many beautiful words Jaya xx
Eri Tz
This is breathtaking Jaya! Especially loved the sentence “like fireworks caught between your teeth”. It is such a vivid image of the breathtaking feeling created while reading this poem.
Thank you! You made my evening a bit better 😉
Jaya Avendel
Love your read of this and am thrilled to have spiced up your evening. 🥰
Lisa's Notebook
You always read about Fall and the amazing colours of the trees in Virginia – perfectly captured in this poem, Jaya! The line I like best is “faintly blushing tights” – reminds me of cold red legs in the frosty air 🙂
summer with monika
It’s astonishing to me the way you capture not only feelings but colors with words.
barbaraleaver
This brings memories to the fore of time spent near Maryland in Autumn and all the beautiful colours of the trees.
Dominic Alapat
Wow! This poem took me to some other place in my mind! A place I had not seen before! This, I think, is your best poem I’ve read so far!
Jaya Avendel
Thank you SO much, Dominic!
Dominic Alapat
Welcome Jaya!
Gabriela Marie Milton
This is breathtaking Jaya!
xoxo
readandreviewit1
Your writing never fails to blow me away! You’ve painted such a beautifully vivid scene here: from the leather boots and snake-tongue lighting to the fireworks and shadows I loved every word. Fall is definitely up there with my favourite seasons and this really reminded me of that. Thank you so much for sharing <3
Jaya Avendel
Thank you for sharing such a lovely reading experience! 😘
HackettHillFarm
Such a beautifully written piece of work. The tone and imagery of this poem are wonderful
Jeff Flesch
I say, this is one of the most beautiful poems I’ve ever read. The way you construct the imagery, and the feeling with the repeated, I say, is fabulous, and the ending is absolutely stunning. “Penning vibrancy into dull ink”, and penning dull ink into stunningly vibrant poems. Beautiful, Jaya!!
Jaya Avendel
Jeff, your words mean so much to me! I absolutely love and feel the way you read this. 🤩
Jeff Flesch
I’m so glad this is so, Jaya; and, I’m very appreciative to have read your wonderful words on this beautiful afternoon! Stunning. ☺️
Daphny Aqua
Loved it, this is extremely pleasant to read.
Lucia’s Fiction
This is so evocative 👏🏼
lifestyleseason
Love this poem! It’s so creative and imaginative! Thank you for sharing this with us!
Michele Lee
Jaya, with these vibrant lines, I had to read this aloud, two times.😄 Love your work!
Jaya Avendel
Thank you wholesomely, Michele!
A Sustainably Simple Life
There is a street in the city near me with these beautiful trees that arc over the street and, in the Fall, when the leaves change colour it is majestic. At that time of year, the street floods with people and social media influencers trying to capture the beauty of it all. This poem took me to that scene with, I guess, quite a literal interpretation of the first few lines. I love Fall so much with its vibrancy that is so hard to capture in pictures with the same impact as seeing it all evolve firsthand 🙂
Jaya Avendel
Thank you for sharing a personal way this poem translated into your life. 🥰
thetravelvine
Ahhh love this! It reminds me of getting dressed up and going out for the night when it’s bitterly cold 🙂
Corinne
He vibrancy in this poem is amazing. It’s beautiful!
Corinne x
Unwanted Life
This is an amazing piece. The line “Tooth-pick thin heels piercing the leaves” makes me think you’re referring to a photographer’s tripod. With the whole poem kind of making me think of wildlife photographer trying to capture images in the woods
Jaya Avendel
I was referring to a camera tripod. Love that you picked up on that!
Sue Berk Koch
I can see those leather boots caught in the frost. ‘I am queen, penning vibrancy into dull ink.’ You are a word queen, Jaya!
Charity
Fall is my favorite. And your writing is so picturesque and vivid. I can just imagine seeing it myself!
Frank @ Beach Walk Reflections
Definitely rich with subtle, teasing heat. OK … you had my at polished legs. Well done, Jaya.
Jaya Avendel
Thank you, Frank! 🥰
paeansunplugged
Jaya, such rich imagery! I agree with Ingrid…you are Queen. ❤️
Jaya Avendel
You make me smile, Punam!
Ingrid
You are Queen, Jaya! What a beautiful scene you paint here 🍁
Jaya Avendel
I am honored, Ingrid. 🙏🏼