Seasons

A glimpse of Pershore earlier today, Sunday, September 4, 2016,
in the beautiful County of Worcestershire,
just across the county boundary from my own, Gloucestershire.

Revised Edition 

The trees are on the turn

Summer is passing

A slight coolness now pervades,

There is a rustling in the leaves overhead,

A brittleness - as in kindling

not there in the greenery last week

The Sun is slow to depart

Lingering with the stunning skies

bewitching us each eve,

warming the hearts of gardeners

recalling the old lore …

Red sky at night shepherd's delight!...

… heaving a sigh of relief

A week or two is with us yet, perhaps!

… Before the cold snap sets in

And the weaklings in the shrubbery are

there in the evening

but gone in the morning,

or there in the morning

but gone by evening,

Ah! Such is Nature

the truth be told!

The dragonflies hover

over the garden pond.

Four-winged, emerald green

ethereal bodies

translucent …

Nature quietly reminds me

she was here way before

the three-speed office fan,

and will still be here

if all is gone

The water is still, deep, dark, warm

Beguiling, dangerously though, not!

An invitation …

to sit

to crouch

to ponder

Yes ponder...

At life above and below water...

A little 'armadillo' scuttles across the cotswold stone

Pitching precariously on a sudden unseen ledge

And, with baited breath, I watch

And then I can't but help to poke my nose in

Pitching his end back up,

He, she or it regaining grip

And I catch a glimpse of Toad

Oh get away with you Toadie

You've had plenty

You won't miss that one, I'm sure!

And in my mind's eye I catch Beatrix …

Of Potter fame

And Toad of Toad Hall

Ummh, well I always say that

Them that plays God

Is in for a sticky wicket

For sure

Oh alright Toad

I won't don't it again

Anyway, I'm going in

It's that very British hour

Afternoon tea and toast

And I'll throw crumbs into the pond

Your dominions - nay minions - love that don't they!

They do indeed

Hu-Hu-Ermm…I do too

I know. He-he

Be back shortly with the tray.

My sister's down the garden

At the industrial end

All lines, beansticks and runs and hessian nets

And the hens are on the run

but safely penned in

Foxy won't get them this time

I ponder further …

my finger enjoys the ripples it creates

A little 'weather storm' they'll be thinking, under,

And, hey, guess what Toad?

Oh no. Don’t tell me … Finn's here.

Ever since he fell in, this place has never been

The same.

He keeps tickling me!

You’d better watch out.

Came home from school today

Deputy head Boy!

Haha! I know.

Don't worry. I hear he's confined to the sofa

But be warned Toad!

Knowing Finney, he'll soon be out

So just make sure you all have your defences up

I think your kettle's boiling.

It is Toad. I'll go and bring the tray out

We'll have afternoon tea together, hey!

And Sam's made the scones

And Grandad's baked the bread

And… hey up Toad, Gran's coming back

Look lively!

The leaves gently settle back in place,

Resting on the warm summer breeze

Kissing the water's surface

Toad is safe

And Frog is down t’other end

Content to mind his part of the pond.

A pond skier takes advantage

skimming across water that

must, to him, her or it, seem like an ocean

Nature, supreme!

The whirl of four-winged dragonflies above

The galosh-splosh of wellington boots strolling by,

Reminding me to cover the seat before I sit down...

The summer shower was very brief but heavy

And there's nothing worse than sitting on a wet seat!

Who were you talking to?

No one!

Ermm … they’ll be coming to take you away!

Sisters!!!

6 January 2022
All Rights Reserved

© 2023 Kenneth Thomas Webb

Composed September 4, 2016

Images all rights reserved to the author.