Walking on tangerine corpses
after the first night of frost
scented with decay
crackling under my feet,
lamenting the finality,
briefly turning the paths into gold
before being absorbed
and swallowed by soil
while the courtly king
my oak, remains green,
stately and stronger alone
pretending while
letting a jittery squirrel
collect the last of its acorns,
under cerulean skies
the hesitant grass
listen to silence of birds.
This is the season both before and during deluge.
Today Kim inspires us to create poems at dVerse with a microseason we invent ourselves. The season should be put in the title. For inspiration she shares various Japanese Microseasons, but we should create our own.
My poem is inspired by a microseason we have in Spring: between bird cherry and lilac which means the short blissful period in may between the blooming of bird cherry Prunus Padus and lilac. Both these flowers have a strong scent and is the period for young people to fall in love.
October 21, 2025
Björn Rudbergs writings 
So much amazing imagery. Especially tangerine corpses. And I love the description of the oak as a courtly king.
I think its amazing to see how different tree behaves. I think the european oak is even more stately than the one you have in America.
Stunning work done, Bjorn! I especially admire; “while the courtly king my oak, remains green, stately and stronger alone.” 💚💚
It is amazing with the oak just standing there while all the other trees fell their leaves.
Definitely 😊
How wonderful that your poem was inspired by a Swedish micro season in May, and that it’s not set in spring, but in autumn. I love how you set the scene in the opening lines, which appeal to all the senses, and the courtly king, the oak, standing strong and green. The ‘jittery squirrel’ was a pleasant surprise.
It was some random observation from my multiple walks around where I live.
A truly wonderful micro poem, Björn. I love the dolorous atmosphere being crowned by that “stately king,” that oak which alone stands unperturbed and regnant. What a glorious image!
*micro season
But soon even the oak will turn brown and shed its leaves.
You’ve captured the micro season so beautifully. It goes wonderfully with the photo.
It is a micro-season we are in currently
Yes. And the season is felt within the weather.
I love “tangerine corpses.” And the oaks are “courtly kings.”
Are your oaks dropping lots of acorns this year? (Apparently this is a mast year.) I hear them dropping on our roof, and they’re all over the yard and street.
Alas.. not too many acorns this year.
Interesting. I guess Swedish trees follow other rules. 😊
The oaks are reluctant to give up. They are proper stalwarts!
Yes… they always stand strong and alone (and they are truly hardwood)
luv your osk tree
“while the courtly king
my oak, remains green,”
much♡love
Thank you… oaks are great
Your descriptions seem very solid – like the oak tree. Always good to be earthed and unmoving rather than buzzing around as a jittery squirrel – Jae
I think it would go very bad for a squirrel to be earthed 🙂
We are in the season of wet fallen leaves here on the west coast of Canada, too. The maple is one of my favourite trees. I once had huge old growth maples in my yard. Sigh.
Maples are great for leaves, but the oak has such wonderful branches…. (and this is the eurorpean oak)
Amazing imagery! I love: “Walking on tangerine corpses…” what a way to grab attention!
I was very happy when writing that too.
You drew me into your poem!
This is evocative and such a lovely micro season! We have so many acorns falling from our oaks now I have to remember to wear shoes when I take Celeste into the yard.
It is really a time when we transition quite fast… and soon the oaks will be bare.
this was wonderful Björn, the contrast of life and death, surrender and survival — played out on this Autumn stage. 🙂
Your poem is visually stunning, with tons of depth too .. those dead leaves announcing winter is close by. I loved this, Bjorn
I was hiking in the mountains over the weekend and the oaks are turning color, I picked up some acorns to bring home for the squirrels as there aren’t many around here. The air does have a musty, woody, and decaying scent of dead leaves.
Great choice of poem. It is interesting how some leaves fall early and others fall later hanging on into the winter!
Lovely description!
Walking on golden paths with the squirrels 🙂
I, too, love your tangerine corpses.
I love the difference between the different colours of trees in all the seasons – even when bare you can pick them out – lovely observational poem Björn…
Your short season sends a second flush of vernal juice through the synapses. For lovers that means Round Two of the day into the night …
And we are almost into round three already
Your poem makes a lovely autumn picture.
Thank you 🙂
It is amazing how different trees respond differently to changing weather. Stunning imagery.
That sounds like a really lovely time of year. I would look forward to a spring like this. How very cool?