Friday, August 27, 2010

genesis



magnolia seed pod from the patio at Willow Manor
Wrapped
in death clothes
of an August womb

amniotic perspiration
embalms
my unborn
summer corpse

annual gestation
in Midwestern sun
cocooned

till autumn genesis
calls this
lazy Lazarus
to come forth



Tess Kincaid
August, 2009


I hibernate in summer. Heat does not go kindly with me, so I seek the cool and dark. My creative juices run thick as sludge and I remain in limbo until fall. Last week, I felt it. That still, heaviness in the air that bodes change. It's the birth pangs of autumn and I am giddy with anticipation. I like to think it's because I was born in October, that fall happens to be my personal spring, the season in which I am resurrected into my element, when my juices flow free and fresh like the fall breeze through open manor windows. I have them open today.

75 comments:

  1. I'm ready to be called forth as well!!!

    It was pretty pleasant here today, but certainly not time for us to open the windows and turn off the air yet. I envy you that.

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  2. Autumn - the beginnings of the new year based on all those exciting back to school experiences of a life time. The harvest begins. Tonight I turned on the little white twinkly lights above the mantel for the first time this season. Welcome to your element Willow!

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  3. Yes, well... I've run out of accolades. You and Harnett-Hargrove are bastions of consistent quality.

    Oh, and don't take down your old Magpie banner (the statue with the shield)... we perma-linked it on 10thDoM.

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  4. Um...okay. I just redecorated over at Magpie. I'll stick the statue and shield up somewhere on the sidebar.

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  5. a Fall butterfly - interesting. I like that!

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  6. I forgot to say "please."

    Baino's gonna kill me.

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  7. Not yet please. I love summer; autumn makes me depressed.

    Bisou, Cro.

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  8. After two days of totally unseasonable temperatures near 90, I was so happy to have our normal 70 degree day time summer temp and the night cool weather in the low 60's. That's one reason, I've lived in this area for the past 33 years. I fled Georgia because I hate the weather there and have loved this area.

    I have an October birthday as well
    ( the 3rd ).

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  9. Elegantly writ. Autumn is my spring, too, and I'm infinitely in love.

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  10. Autumn is a beautiful time of the year.

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  11. Dear Willow, Your poem so very succinctly encapsulates the feelings which you outline at the start of this posting. For me, there is always an imperceptible change on 1st. September as summer slips quietly away. I love it.

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  12. Excellent photo choice, and poem-story of the edu variety. GooooD!

    I wish to revive the formerly popular movement for planning a (sort of) retreat weekend at Willow Manor...Ooops!

    I Loved this!

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  13. "..till autumn genesis
    calls this
    lazy Lazarus
    to come forth.."

    Loved this.

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  14. I absolutely love Summer! When the temperature hits 85 degrees, I start to feel comfortable. Until then, I wear sweaters and complain about air conditioning.

    I love Autumn. I love its colors and crispness and the clear blue September sky. The beginning of school feels like my new year.

    I love Spring! The awakening of the earth stirs me like nothing else.

    Winter: no comment.

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  15. Willow you voiced the samething I did, I too cannot function in Spring and Summer. It is like the reverse of what everyone feels. I come alive with Fall and Winter, I look forward to it with excitement. Love the poem.

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  16. Willow you voiced the samething I did, I too cannot function in Spring and Summer. It is like the reverse of what everyone feels. I come alive with Fall and Winter, I look forward to it with excitement. Love the poem.

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  18. I love Autumn too lazy lazarus - its like a mini new year for me, settling down to the real work of living after the hiatus that is waiting for the sun to come out over here!

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  19. Willow,
    Autumn in my resurrection also.
    rel

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  20. Interesting phrases here...

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  21. Summer is coming to an end, and that might mean Tuesday could be one of the last days my friends Elizabeth & Robert and I go to the Ocean beach, Robert Moses. We hope to find things to do in the Fall & winter that don't include the beach, but for now it is glorious there, water warm, air breezy.

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  22. Summer is coming to an end, and that might mean Tuesday could be one of the last days my friends Elizabeth & Robert and I go to the Ocean beach, Robert Moses. We hope to find things to do in the Fall & winter that don't include the beach, but for now it is glorious there, water warm, air breezy.

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  23. Summer is coming to an end, and that might mean Tuesday could be one of the last days my friends Elizabeth & Robert and I go to the Ocean beach, Robert Moses. We hope to find things to do in the Fall & winter that don't include the beach, but for now it is glorious there, water warm, air breezy.

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  24. Oh, Lori, you're making this particular Midwest girl feel very land-locked, indeed! It's been years since I've seen the sea.

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  25. Lovely, and I share your love of autumn. It is the best time of year for me.

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  26. My favourite season, Autumn yet Winter is when I feel giddy. Autumn gives me peace and a little excitement at the thought of my favourite month approaching; December.

    Another lovely piece of writing.

    CJ xx

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  27. I like summer. I like fall too, it's refreshing especially since our fall is like most people's summer. But I really really don't like winter.

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  28. Fall, glorious fall! Wood smoke teasing my nose, crisp breeze upon my face...shrouds of heavy morning mist above the confluence of mighty rivers...BLISS! = ')

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  29. Ah, Willow...if I lived anywhere else in the "48", no doubt I would be in agreement with you....but, as you know, I have had four days TOTAL of sun, blue skies and warmth since April.... it has been a cold and depressing "Summer"...
    but, LIKE YOU, Autumn is my favourite time of the year...and although most of the leaves don't turn colour here, one can smell the change and feel it....and....one more thing we share.....an October Birthday!

    Tomorrow, I am heading to my "second home" - SF Opera....first piano rehearsal for our season opener - "Aida". It's going to be a busy season....48 rehearsals and 50 performances!

    Love,

    ♥ Robin ♥

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  30. "I like to think it's because I was born in October, that fall happens to be my personal spring, the season in which I am resurrected into my element,"

    I love the way you say the things I feel but don't always know how to articulate! Being born in September, the return to school and a timely schedule, these are all the New Year for me. Perhaps it's because I take the summer "off" with no particular routine that I look forward to a more purposeful passing of time.

    This poem is genius.

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  31. I can feel it in the air here today too...still I'm not quite ready to let go of summer...hoping for more sailing:)

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  32. Maybe if I sailed the glorious sea in summer, I wouldn't be so happy to see it go! :^)

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  33. It seems the older we get the more I hibernate in the summer instead of the other way around. I love the autumn and can feel a lift in my walk even. Makes one want to get going. Wonderful poem.
    QMM

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  34. All of us were October births. Patty, myself and you. Good time too.

    I enjoyed the harvests over the years as you have. I think people born this month are a lot more creative, hold grudges 2 minutes longer than the rest of the people, and are easy to satisfy with nice things.

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  35. Wonderful poem and photograph...totally captured me. I am still relishing summer, as it has been an oddly cool one here in CA, though I will gladly enjoy the falling leaves and hang my pumpkin flad once fall arrives.

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  36. I love it all and right now summer is in it's last days of warm afternoons but autumn has my heart...your words express my feelings of autumn as the true beginning...beautiful!

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  37. I hadn't noticed any creative lethargy in particular, Willow!

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  38. that may be so, but you seem to run on pretty high octane most of the time xxo

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  39. After our record setting heat wave for this area I am looking forward to Fall which I felt in the air this past weekend. Fall is my favorite time as it is for many. Your descriptive words are beautiful. -- barbara

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  40. I'm in love with what you've said. I'm a late September baby and feel exactly as you do. You've explained it all. Summer almost kills me every year, I hardly ever even leave the house. Living in Phoenix probably isn't the best for a person like me.

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  41. It was in the 50s this morning! I was excited that I actually ran the heat a little bit in my car on the way to work. If I weren't such a pessimist I would love fall better - it's that pesky winter tag-along that bugs me!

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  42. Bug, I don't think I ever run the heat in my car. Not even in the dead of winter. With coat and Zhivago hat, who need heat? I know. I think I'm an amphibian.

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  43. I too find myself creating more in the fall. The summer heat makes me feel wilted and cranky.
    This is beautiful writing and the picture of the Magnolia seed pod it beautiful too.

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  44. Oh yeah...come on autumn...right there with you on this one. I find that I too hibernate in the summer...all closed up. Enjoyed reading your take on this. We must be kindred spirits. I'm also a Libra...10/4.
    Looking forward to your autumn posts.

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  45. that was beautiful dear. great post :)

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  46. I wonder if most people like the season in which they were born. Hmm.

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  47. I feel exactly the same way. Born in November. Hmm, maybe that's why I love fall so much. Summer is just not my thing anymore. Gone, in fact long gone, are the days for catching a tan.

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  48. I was born in spring, but fall is my true love. :-)

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  49. Oh, yes! The dryer, slightly cooler weather we've had the past few days has been balm to a summer-fried soul!

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  50. I like to learn new things and much of the time you teach me things. This is the first magnolia pod I have seen. I can understand your summer hibernation. I have been doing the same thing this summer.

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  51. I absolutely love "lazy Lazarus!"

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  52. This is Beautiful! "AMNIOTIC PERSPIRATION" praise be woman! You are the epitome of a summer sword!

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  53. This is Beautiful! "AMNIOTIC PERSPIRATION" praise be woman! You are the epitome of a summer sword!

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  54. I really like the idea of a "seasonal" creativity. Intriguing.

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  55. I was born in winter but love both autumn and winter. Trouble is that we are headed for spring here in New Zealand and have the heat of summer ahead of us.

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  56. this piece of poetry, Willow..is stunning..Love every stanza...Love It...bkm

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  57. Yes, there has definitely been a change in the air. I like having four seasons, but am partial to the "changelings"--spring and fall.

    This was beautifully done. Thank you.

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  58. I like Autumn as well that is when the breeze starts to flow in, but with Texas weather who knows. I want to move to a state where I can actually witness all four seasons, that would be awesome.

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  59. Maybe when you were a kid the car didn't have heaters. I know we didn't have a heater and used lap bankets. Somebody had to sit beside the driver and work the windshield wiper, Stick shifts. Those were the days.

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  60. A Libran Willow needs water. Sorry,
    but you are going to have to move.

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  61. I too adore autumn, october birthday for myself too and this year....65th. gulp. but i also adore summer. in fact, pretty much every season. winter is great for a month, but then i'd like to switch.

    i agree w/Leslie that, for me, autumn for years mean back to school new beginnings feelings even long after i was done w/school. however now that connection has pretty much faded. still, the feel and smell especially of autumn in the air sets me out of grasshopper mode into ant mode. scurry scurry, getting ready for the winter.

    lovely poem and photos.

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  62. This morning we arose to 57 degrees. I pinched myself, thinkin my mioptic eyed decided to read the numbers right to left. We just had a few weeks of 95 degrees to over 100 degress, and thats not heat index, it's actual reading.

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  63. NitWit, it's currently a lovely 66 degrees this morning at WM, but supposed to be back in the 90's by Monday. Ug.

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  64. Neci, I am fortunate enough to experience all four seasons, here in Central Ohio. I would be so bored in a temperate climate. For the most part, except for the extreme heat, I enjoy the drama.

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  65. I,ve never thought of it in that way before ,but you are right. My Birthday is on the very end of July, and the months of June & July are always the most enjoyable to me.Waiting for my own personal lazy Lazarus I guess!

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  66. willow i'm a summer born boy but i love the autumn for its colour, its wild variety of weathers, and especially the gathering of goodies for the winter months. steven

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  67. Beautiful photo and poem. I do love the fall, as well. The sun is at a different point almost daily as I head out to work, and it's making me realize that soon it will be sweater weather, which is just fine by me.

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  68. I feel the way you do about heat. Fortunately, I live in a part of the world where it just doesn't get that hot.

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  69. You see, it pays to hang around
    here and read the comments,
    for one begins to paint that
    picture in their mind of Willow
    Manor and its mistress. All I
    could garner from the first
    sniff was that WM was "somewhere
    in America". But today I am
    overjoyed to begin the mental
    schematic-building of putting
    folks in specific places, in their
    proper niche and placing on
    the friendship shelves within.
    So first I stumbled onto
    Midwest, and then I found
    Central Ohio. In light of the
    Autumnal Ball upcoming, it
    is good to know your
    whereabouts.

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  70. I would have continued with my
    thoughts on comment prior, but
    the cyber gnomes get cranky when
    one wanders into a stream of
    consciousness state. So all one
    can do is re-post the thoughts
    as they tumble forth, colorful,
    mantled in sweetness and red
    shag, nice to touch, and always
    honest and direct; often pleasant
    and tasteful, but sometimes
    otherwise, yet never dipping
    deep into scatological realms
    or candor-free zones.

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  71. My wife, my soul's brilliant aura,
    was also born in October, sometime
    early in the morn in 1954. For
    six years now we gather by
    the sea at a resort in Pacific Beach,
    WA, and our family and friends
    who have the time and inclination,
    gather at the MISS MELVA'S BIRTHDAY
    BASH. We rent cottages, motel rooms,
    and put up tents, gathering for meals,
    games, and fun. Stop by some year
    and sit with us in long rows of beach
    chairs sucking in the kelp and negative
    ions, pointing north up to the
    Indian reservation, where the best
    sea stacks stand, flowered with
    green conifer and wild flowers,
    ringed with flocks of gulls and
    crows, and sit with us for the
    huge beach fire on October
    21, the actual birthday, when
    the singing and drinking commence.

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  72. Autumn in the northwest is brilliantly
    washed in the fall colors, and biting
    the brow with the nip in the air,
    whispering promises of ice on the
    puddles and windshields; time to
    cover the outside faucets, and pull
    the tenderest plants inside to stay
    warm with us, for our cat to nibble
    on and rub against. It is late August
    here in my valley, near the Puyallup
    river, with Mt. Rainier mostly naked
    on the hazy horizon outside the
    kitchen window, and off the northern
    corner of our puncheon deck.
    The mountain will cover itself in
    white over the next few weeks.
    The neighbor's 100 year old
    maple will cover our yard in
    orange and yellow leaves.
    Summer is packing its bags
    and Fall has sent its intention.

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  73. "Summer is packing its bags and Fall has sent its intention."

    ((sigh)) Glenn, you may leave these beautiful comments any time you like. By the way, your brilliant wife and I were born just two years and one day apart. Mine is October 20, 1956.

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  74. Really enjoyed reading this. You have a flair with finishes. Great stuff.

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Inject a few raisins of conversation into the tasteless dough of existence.
― O. Henry (and me)