Almost Apple Season
Life cycles (Anniversary acrostic for Real Poetic)
Apple season's getting started, I say to myself.
Nodding June fruitlets supplant May's shroud of blossoms,
Now that every white wing has slipped from the trees.
I rarely visit the old orchard this time of day,
Vertical shafts of light pillaring the in-between spaces,
Every low shadow gathered in, crisply dark and waiting to grow.
Reaching up, I touch a swelling nub, an apple-to-be in the fullness of time.
Suddenly my hand stops. Time slips. An almost apple.
Almost twelve years ago -- your last day before hospice -- we came here,
Rambling hand in hand, you wrapped round in your dusky shawl.
You pointed to a dark, hard nub and said, Enjoy this one in the fall, for me.
**
A/N - I am indebted to this marvelous photo journal of the lifecycle of an apple, which I returned to many times during the writing of this piece, both for science and for inspiration. And I learned that the proper name for a nascent apple is "fruitlet," which seems sweetly fitting.
**
Thank you for reading my acrostic for Real Poetic's ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY CHALLENGE -- give it a try!
**
About the Creator
Sonia Heidi Unruh
I love: my husband and children; all who claim me as family or friend; the first bite of chocolate; the last blue before sunset; solving puzzles; stroking cats; finding myself by writing; losing myself in reading; the Creator who is love.
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Comments (9)
Beautiful!!
Damn that caught me off guard. Beautifully done
Oh this was devastatingly beautiful. The picture you’ve painted with your words… the despondent slip of old grief… mmfff.
The ending was so poignant and emotional! Loved your take on this challenge!
This is so touching, brilliant.
I second Gabriel's choice of line. Loved the poignancy this evoked. Excellent!
This is absolutely marvelous, in both subject and craft!! The line "Vertical shafts of light pillaring the in between spaces" stuck with me in particular- I can see that coming to life in my mind's eye. Thank you for sharing this masterpiece!
Memories add value to our lives. Nicely done and thanks for sharing!
Fruitlet is a new word for me too! Great job.