The trees catch fire –
flames flicker in the wind –
gold and red and amber –
and then the nakedness
of branches, ash-grey
against an ash-white sky
and deep deep down
embers are waiting
for a single breath
to leap up fresh and new –
green flames
I’m the host at dVerse tonight – it’s always a thrill to host the quadrille! Our word tonight is “ash”.
Sarah writes poems 
The trees haven’t really caught fire here yet, but a few are turning. I do love the beautiful display before the ash-grey winter. And I look forward to the flames of green 🙂
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Not all our trees are catching fire yet but also some are turning yellow. Love the autumn hues, mood and that nature cycle to spring, the green flames.
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We still have trees left, but soon there are more leaves on the ground than on the branches…. the knowledge that they will be lit with the flicker of green is comforting.
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We’ve been “past peak” for a few days now; windy days, so now we have more groundleaf than foliage. Can’t wait for green’s return (so far away, now).
Fine poem Sarah & thanks for host/prompting!
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Love this, “the nakedness of branches,” here speaks volumes! Exquisitely drawn, Sarah 💝💝
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What a wonderful way to describe this time of transition.
We are still 99% green here, in mid-Missouri.
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The embers are waiting to spring into green flame. I love that thought!
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Hope rests and germinates in ypur poem.
Thanks for dropping by to read mine
Much💜love
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A beautiful rendering of the seasonal change….and the use of “ash” twice, for two different elements of nature…add to the word painting and mood you’ve created.
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Such a beautiful description of autumn, Sarah! I like how you slide in ash-grey and ash-white–such subtle differences.
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Thank you! I was quietly pleased with myself!
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No need to be quiet about it!
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Wonderful piece, full of color and life, loved it.
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I love the ending with the embers waiting as hidden seeds. Hoping the leaves here in Missouri turn colors soon. The weatherman says we need more rain to see the colors, otherwise, the green leaves will just fall, and that’s no fun!
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Autumn is late here, too – but we had a trip north at the weekend, and the colour there is much more exciting!
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Naturally it’s easy to read this as being about Autumn – how the season erupts in colours – how everything dies, but within, there is and will be new life again, come Spring, but I also felt like I was reading about the transformational aspect of Fire – had me thinking about wildfires – how they burn everything to shreds – and how fire can still be breathing in the wings, to flame up, even if not wanted. But even afterwards, from the wasteland, there will be new life.
Interesting treatment of the idea, the word ash – this is really lovely and fascinating, for the layers.
Thanks for hosting the quadrille 🙂
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It is incredible how quickly the green stuff pushes through after a fire. I kind of had that in my mind as well.
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it is rather miraculous!
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Delightful imagery, a fiery growth. How I adore these autumnal days.
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I’m waiting for those colors…the beauty of autumn never gets old. (K)
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You added wonderful color to this one 🙂
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I admire how the “trees catch fire” and the differing shades of ash in your poem…with the hope of spring igniting!
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I really like the imagery in this piece.
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Beautiful, especially the green flames.
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Very nicely done Sarah! I love the ending with the green flames!
Dwight
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Lovely sounds and rhythm. Using another element — fire — brings real character and personality to yhe trees.
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‘the’ trees of course…apologies.
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Lots of ashes of every variety. Well done..
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Autumn is such a lovely season and you portray it so well with your quadrille. Here in the Southern hemisphere everything is greening up once more.
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Beautiful autumn picture drawn with your words.
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I adore these lines, Sarah:
❤
David
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The perfect arc, the bridge of the seasons written in fire!
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Lovely, light seasonal poem, with fire and depth and deft description. Thanks for hosting and providing the inspiration, as well.
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Love the hidden green flames that are there even in the void of winter. I enjoyed your sparks, Ingrid. I see we have both been communing with the trees.
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What beautiful images your words invoke Sarah.
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A lovely seasonal poem, Sarah! I like the photo of the fire and the embers metaphor of dormant life within the trees. ❤ Here in SW Florida, we have a much more subtle change of seasons, so your post reminds me of fall growing up in Pennsylvania and Virginia.
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