Common Threads

 Family feedback and fall feels continue in this communal poem! Today I added another family member’s ideas and changed some ordering. One daughter said the gain weight part was not Hygge, so that came out – she suggested replacing it with music. 

Fall Family Hygge Take 3

#maplesyrup #applestrudel

#popcornballs #snickerdoodle

#truckbedhayrides #openwindows

#festivals #townsquarescarecrows

#longshirt-leggings #cinnamonbroom

#comfysweatpants #knittingloom

#spicedcider #woodenspoons

#steamingcocoa #harvestmoons

#clovedorange #jeanswithboots

#acornsquash #harvestfruits

#chilipot #frontdoorwreath

#jack-o-lanterns #chatteringteeth

#frontporchcoffee #hotspicedteas

#bakingaprons #hotpastries

#chillymornings #pottedmums 

#warmingfires #butteredrums

#burlappumpkins #sweatereddogs

#pressednapkins #pecanlogs

#familygathers #crispredapples

#helmetsclash #pigskingrapples

#scentedpinecones #cozythrows

#potpourri #wool-sockedtoes

#boldredwines #cinnamondolce

#sweetwhiterieslings #footballgameday

#pruningbushes #burningleaves

#rakingpinestraw #heatreprieves

#localcraftbrews #pre-gametailgates

#grassstopsgrowing #restawaits

#rustlingleaves #roomyflannels

#naturewalks #cranberrycandles

#favoritemusic #fresh-bakedbreads

#bloomingasters #prayer-bowedheads

This week I am writing a hashtag couplet poem filled with snippets of lists of my family’s favorite fall feels. My father grew up in Waycross, Georgia and loved the smell of burning leaves on his way to play football with the other neighborhood boys. One daughter loves the comfort of leggings and drinking cinnamon dolce, and a son loves jeans with boots and fresh morning air.  I invited them all to share with me their favorites and started the process yesterday. I’ll keep working with this throughout the week creating and changing hashtag couplets. What are YOUR favorite things about fall? 

Fall Family Hygge Take 2

#truckbedhayrides #openwindows

#festivals #townsquarescarecrows

#longshirt-leggings #cinnamonbroom

#comfysweatpants #knittingloom

#maplesyrup #applestrudel

#fallgardens #snickerdoodle

#spicedcider #woodenspoons

#steamingcocoa #harvestmoons

#clovedorange #jeanswithboots

#acornsquash #harvestfruits

#chilipot #frontdoorwreath

#jack-o-lanterns #chatteringteeth

#frontporchcoffee #hotspicedteas

#bakingaprons #hotpastries

#chillymornings #pottedmums 

#warmingfires #butteredrums

#burlappumpkins #sweatereddogs

#pressednapkins #pecanlogs

#familygathers #crispredapples

#helmetsclash #pigskingrapples

#scentedpinecones #cozythrows

#potpourri #wool-sockedtoes

#gourdsaplenty #fresh-bakedbreads

#bloomingasters #bowedheads

#pruningbushes #burningleaves

#rakingpinestraw #heatreprieves

#boldredwines #cinnamondolce

#sweetwhiterieslings #footballgameday

#localcraftbrews #footballtailgate

#gluhwein #weallgainweight

#rustlingleaves #ragquiltflannels

#naturewalks #cranberrycandles

 

Fall Hygge Take 1 

harvest wreath of wheat chaff

pine cone potpourri

multitudes of front porch mums

pumpkin topiary

leaf-stitched tapestries

gourds aplenty

hot spiced tea and cocoa

fall baking apron

pressed placemats and napkins

gold throw pillows 

crisp red apples 

cinnamon broom

white cranberry candles 

rag quilt flannels 

knitting looms 

burlap pumpkins 

wooden spoons 

apple strudel 

honeyed cider

cloved orange

acorn squash 

football tailgates 

chili pots 

sweaters dogs 

pecan logs 

buttered bread 

bowed heads

 

Puckering Muscle

they know something else

has been here when they all 3

pee in that one spot

fresh coyote poop 

this morning, persimmon seeds

identifying

the cunning culprit

sparked the puckering muscle –

4 pooped on the spot! 

Front Porch Conversations

sitting on the porch 

two potted juniper trees 

relaxing loveseat 

gardenia breeze 

wafting fragrance on the wind conversation scents

huge elephant ears 

hearing all our deep secrets 

shared over coffee 

jasmine vines climbing 

peering into the windows 

garden peeping toms

 

Decima Cut Short

at 8 a.m. I checked my phone

they sent us in to substitute

in classrooms of our institute

on the front line of this war zone

in my mind there flashed 4 gravestones

4 bus drivers dead of Covid

people’s fathers, their beloveds

 

Overshadowed

when your thyroid sleeps

all of your underwear feel 

like they’re on backwards 

when you’re growing old 

all of your body parts feel 

like they’re hitching south 

when you’re wrinkling up 

all of your mirrors whisper 

there may be stray hairs 

when you’re standing up 

all of your knee and hip joints 

clash in a gang fight 

when you’re lying down 

your brand new CPAP machine 

waves a bleached white flag 

when your gray hair rules 

all of the rest of you knows 

you’re overshadowed

 

No Overtime

aluminum-free

deodorant does not work

any overtime 

 

Fetch!

Playing with Ollie

He knows how to count to three

Fetch the ball, Ollie! 

 

Guilty as Charged

September 5 – 

I did it. 

I’m guilty. 

I early decorated. 

The Dog Days’ 

heat of summer

have me craving 

fall’s arrival. 

Those crisp mornings,

those soul-soup yearnings

and cozy flannel feelings.

So I brought down the 

pumpkins and wreaths, 

fluffed the table linens,

unfolded the quilts,

and assembled the centerpiece.

I diffused the clove-blend oils

and ordered Welcome Fall gifts

for family on Amazon ~

aprons, teas, books, 

and college football team jerseys

      for all the Schnoodles.

I made hot spiced tea

and fixed hot chocolate.

I cleaned the pumpkin bread

pedestal plate. 

And then I lit a candle

and pretended it was fall,

basked in the hygge.

But I won’t decorate for

Christmas in October, and

when I do the math –

calculating the first day of fall

on September 22, 

I’m 17 days early…..

which is over a month late 

by modern decorating standards.

I stand guilty as charged, 

refusing to budge.