Riff on Martyn Joseph's tweet: 'Today I walked and listened while Autumn spoke'

A Poem for Advent

I joined a Secret Poet's Society in my workplace. We were asked to write a poem for Autumn which led to the first two verses. I had seen a tweet posted on Facebook by the singer Martyn Joseph and found the words so evocative I decided to run with them.

We were then asked to write poems for a Christmas Advent calendar and it seemed to me the existing poem lent itself to further verses on Advent. 

So, in my first blog post for five years, I've gone and got all poetic.

Riff on Martyn Joseph's tweet: 'Today I walked and listened while Autumn spoke'

'Today I walked and listened while Autumn spoke'

Called out in cinnamon and scarlet

To senses long parched of its kaleidoscopic hues

Dropped burnt umber, maroon, and gold at my feet

Spelled out the lavish exuberance of life set down

It told my eyes to watch and wait

To see beyond the constraints of nights drawn in

To feast and drink on the tonal smorgasbord

Before the lean, cool, meditation

Of a landscape, soulscape, stripped bare

It told my ears to listen with intent 

Not only for the coming bells, sleighs and carolling

But for the quiet knock, the inconspicuous event

Of divinity hidden in poverty, of splendour in the discarded

In the swept up, swish of russet glory trampled under the feet of those who pass

It told my heart to go and do likewise

Cast beauty and abundance freely, quietly

Not for likes, social experiments, appraisal points - but unmeasured

Cascading down, irrespective of person, unafraid of the apparent loss

It said: all will come around again in its time.

N W