I wrote this poem in 1983.
“THE AUTUMN CARNIVAL”
Autumn is here, the wind blows so hard,
The leaves fall to the ground as the trees discard.
Amongst the sharp wind and the crispness of fall,
I discovered a delightful event in spite of it all.
Outside my front window near the large oak tree,
A carnival was performing today just for me!
There were rides, there was music, there were colors so bright,
What a beautifully wonderful breathtaking sight!
I bent my ear to the window to better hear the sound,
Of the charming vibrant little merry-go-round.
A carousel of rustling leaves danced in perfect time,
To the lively music of the wind playing so sublime.
Up on the high wire in the top of the trees,
A squirrel performed on the flying trapeze.
His antics displayed with such skill and delight,
While walking the tight rope with trapeze in flight.
Below on the midway was quite a sight to behold,
Carnival leaf tents in colors of red, browns and gold.
A scurrying chipmunk so handsome with stripes on his back,
Stopped by the acorn stand to consume a quick snack.
A parade of wooly caterpillars added to the fun,
Dressed in satiny black velvet, proudl y marching one by one.
The music changed into a march, stepping up its pace,
Their tiny feet synchronized to the beat with eloquence and grace.
The afternoon drew to a close, long shadows on the lawn,
Just as suddenly as the carnival began, now suddenly it was gone.
Mother Nature took the wind away thus music fading with the day,
The squirrel, the chipmunk and the caterpillars, all too, had gone away.
The carnival tents folded and settled on the ground,
Their colors all quietly subdued by the shadows all around.
I closed the curtain on my window, rested my head against my chair,
And pondered for a moment on the carnival that was there.
The wonders of each season, nature’s beautiful display,
I may have missed a wonde r of Autumn, had I not looked outside today.
Mother Nature creates an abundance of beauty for all of us to see,
But today, the Autumn Carnival, she created just for me !!!
Laura Novak
November 1983
