Canadian Autumn

So I have been told...it must be lovely...

Canadian Autumn

 

They say a Canadian autumn is unique

Because of the tamarack trees,

That shed the yellow needles

And these drop quietly to the ground

To become a blanket

Which adds protection during the winter,

Huge outlines of these tamarack trees

Stand along lakes,

Where they turn to gold,

Among the surrounding softwood trees

Bringing back the memories of long ago,

They were a beautiful decoration

And the Indians of this land

Would use the narrow roots for stitching

Strips of birch bark into their canoes,

And some colonists used the roots for joining

The deck timbers on their small ships,

A northern tree with a history,

Found in the Canadian woods

and in the New England area,

Burnished in the sunshine against a deep blue

Sky,

Before the winter snows come,

Their reflection on the water is fantastic with such

Beauty,

They captivate many watchful eyes,

As the blue heron rise at dawn,

The tamaracks are visible in shapes as the sun rises

Bringing the early light,

And the mist begins to rise

 and the loons leave the lake.  --J. E. Cook ©2017

 

 

 

Author's Note

Thanks for reading!

Reviews

[barleygirl]

Awesome imagery! Also good information about trees & native history. I do not have the pleasure of a colorful autumn (altho I love it here for many other reasons) so I always enjoy an autumn message that puts me into a locale with more dramatic changes. Your artwork & word crafting have done the tamaracks justice (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Josie E. Cook M. A.]

Thanks!
However, this is one time that I didn't use my own art or photography. I admired this image and thought it went well with the season.

[barleygirl]

I like trying to stretch & write about things I'm not that familiar with . . . you did it very well here!

[Josie E. Cook M. A.]

Thanks! I tend to write about the subjects that I read about daily. However, Autumn and the trees are dear to me and create a wonderful subject to study and admire through poetry.

[Chase Dylan]

Love reading this stuff... It really defines artistically rich imagery... Carpets of needles, blue herons... Golden lakes... Lush forest... You can practically sit down amidst the words and have a picnic...

[Josie E. Cook M. A.]

Thanks so much for your expert insight!
:)

[Chase Dylan]

Hmm... "Expert"... *Pets his cat on his mob-boss chair* Yesss... I like the sound of that...

[Josie E. Cook M. A.]

One must always have their cat in the picture to be an expert--mostly when writing is involved per Hemingway. :)

[Chase Dylan]

Rofl... Good thing I have two of them 2 choose from... Now if only they would sit still...

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Love the images you have woven into this piece of nature Josie. I had no knowledge of the Tamarack tree even though my sister has lived in Canada for decades.

[Josie E. Cook M. A.]

Thanks for telling me your thoughts!

[John Alexander McFadyen]

My pleasure