Not unlike Frederick the Mouse from the old Leo Lionni story (1967), I feel like I need to gather color in my mind for the long winter days ahead. Below you will find a poem reflecting the gathering of orange, a favorite color of mine because of its vibrancy!
Maple leaves showing their inner beauty
hang tentatively on limbs baked in the sun and
cooled in the crisp night air. Orange.
Pumpkins dotting the farm fields with rounded sunny
heads peeking out amongst the vines, hoping to be picked
by an eager toddler before a raccoon takes a bite for a crunchy meal.
Disappearing Candy Corn gobbled up so fast it seems like
a ghost has been visiting your kitchen. No one owning up to
the festive feast of the colorful triangular sweet treat.
A coat so bright and warm of wool that wearing it just makes
you smile from ear to ear like a jack 0′ lantern grinning in
late October. Cozy orange coat of mine.
Autumn decorations in doorways beckon a welcome
to eager trick or treaters in the neighborhood. A warm,
fiery glow from a Cucurbita pepo. Large, small, scary, silly.
Fun to see. Fun to carve.
A favorite blanket of cinnamon awaits on a brown couch for
any wanting warmth on the first of many cold days. Leafy views
turn your head as they float by the window, catching your eye.
Anticipating the winter skies ablaze with streaks of tangerine
mixed with fuchsia upon sunrise when days are lengthening again.
Deeply colored mums in rust and burgundy bought to add color
to the garden when it is disappearing from the plants of summer.
Autumnal orange brings sights to behold and warm the soul.
Color poems are a fun way to engage students of any age in writing. It was one of my favorite activities that I did with my writer’s circle students in year’s past. Hailstones and Halibut Bones (1961) by Mary O’Neill is a great mentor text. It is available on Amazon.
