the pause before fall

Posted in dverse poetry prompt, New Free Verse by

the air has that ripening
apple smell
& nights are cooler.
still, summer
threads sun to my skin
in the afternoon to blend
coconut lotion heated
to a gentle simmer
with my vanilla
& honey soap
to draw out bees
scenting that sweet.

I blow them gently off
candied skin–
who can blame them
when I smell of cakes
& frosting, even
as my mind moves to rooms
full of chalk and book dust
not beaches
and summer melons.

I might even
use baking
as a metaphor
but that is another fall thing
I do

& those apples
are not sweet enough
yet

in August
to begin

***At Dverse today, we are writing about summer–so I wrote about the end of it.  http://dversepoets.com/

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68 thoughts on “the pause before fall”

  1. oh nice…can so feel this with all the scents and texture…loved especially…
    to draw out bees
    scenting that sweet.
    I blow them gently off
    candied skin–
    who can blame them
    when I smell of cakes
    & frosting….hmmm…nice… and heck yes…the apples are not sweet enough yet..but soon will be…

  2. oh, this made me smile with all those scents wafting through the air as I read it… and now I am so ready for crisp fall apples…

  3. I love the description “ripening apple smell.” That so much describes August; and yes, summer nights right now are cooler. Fall is in the air, but blissfully it is still summer. I enjoyed your write.

  4. Apples and not peaches. Your right…we are leaving summer and entering fall…apples are perfect for this. And I smell them, love them. Beautiful sfam.

  5. This is quite a delight to the senses. All the sweet fragrances and thought of juicy fruit and then you go on to mention cakes and frosting… suddenly, I’m hungry! lol
    Loved all the visuals in this Susan.

  12. This captures so well that tipping point between summer and fall….and being not quite ready to let it go….loved how you talk about using baking as a metaphor- but then that’s something you do in Autumn….this makes me want to soak up those last few drops of sunshine- knowing that it won’t be long before the leaves are falling- so very good

  17. Delicious piece, Susan. I love the ripe smell in the air and the candied skin. So many sweet and pretty images here. I like how you lead us into the next season, also. :)

  18. First off — love the title!!

    Second — I love the “sweet” monologue of this piece…like I can overhear your thoughts as you bask in the late summer rays.

  19. nice with a touch of sensual…esp the bees….hmmm…all i get are flies buzzing around…grins…maybe thats a sign i dont smell of cake frostings…hehe

    lovely musings….:))

  20. I love how you manage to celebrate the smells of both summer and fall. Your bees and their attraction to you brought back memories. I want to quote all of your lines back to you to feel the way I do, but I won’t. I am blessed to get to read such luscious poems.

  22. really nicely done. Excellent read. Really like the descriptive choices here, paint a very visual image. Thanks

  25. I like this–especially the way you took a non-summer fruit, and made it the essence of end-of-summer wistfulness. Thank you.

  26. Apple season! There was an orchard we frequented in Vermont, and in fact, I wrote it into Twinned. So love fetching apples, and yes, I’ve been in a tree. ;-)

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