November-bared the branches
of our ancient maple moans;
sated with her fire faded
she sighs and droops her sap
deeper, deeper into the soil,
she groans and let the earthworm
coil his hunger ’round her root,
he hugs her winter core,
as she falls asleep,
snores and dreams
that those seeds she shed will hatch
to bring a sapling youth of maples
’round her feet, later when
she’s rested and the winter’s left.
Today Sanaa, hosts at dVerse and asks us to write poetry about November. During the last few days we have really moved into darker times and I can just hope for brightness to come back.
November 3, 2020
Björn Rudbergs writings 
Very beautiful writing, Bjorn! ❤
Love this!
Love it “November-bared branches” *sigh* soooo fall! 🙂
I agree with the others — beautiful writing! I love the personification and the inclusion of the earthworm, which “hugs her winter core.”
I love the seasonal change by nature specially this part:
she groans and let the earthworm
coil his hunger ’round her root
I can’t wait too.
a beautiful season in the life of the tree – and the introduction of the earthworm creates a divine contrast
From the wordplay in the title to the moaning, groaning, sighing and snoring sounds, Björn, you’ve presented November as an exhausted month through the personified maple. I love her sapped stamina, her faded fire, and her hope for the spring.
Such an arresting opening line to this delicious poem, Bjorn! 💝 I love how moody and dark it is and how it sings November into the soul 🙂
Lovely, evokes the month and the season well.
It’s a time of rest and settling down for the trees. They deserve it. It’s been a hard summer for them.
brightness always returns and you will appreciate it all the more … sounds like you are digging in to hibernate for a cold dark winter. Good luck with that
Yes. This is hypnotic.
she groans and let the earthworm
coil his hunger ’round her root,
I adore this poem and all the feelings of the season it evokes. Beautiful imagery!
the sink into winter, knowing that it will pass, that things will return to life again- a metaphor for the journey of life!
This is beautiful, Bjorn. Your use of imagery is phenomenal.
Made me hush, get quiet and let your maples get their well deserved rest.
Magnificent stark photo. Perfect in black and white. I wondered how things went this weekend? I love the surprising tenderness you bring to your poem:
“coil his hunger ’round her root,
he hugs her winter core,”
Such a comforting thought.
The picture is actually a color photo… it was very very grey that day.
Ugh! All color washed away…
I love the personality you gave this ancient maple.
Mesmerizing! You had me at groaning trees!
I love this image of the maple-tree-as-mother. For sure, after all this winter bleakness, spring will come.
Your descriptions of the maples moving into hibernation is great. I like the worms hugging the roots!
Yes, this is November.
You gave Mother Maple character and soul. Creative thinking.
I like that the old girl sleeps and snores. Well done.
Oh, I love this so much Bjorn.
She sighs, she groans, she falls asleep …. she sounds kind of boring. HOWEVER your poetry is spectacular.