Home For Fiction – Blog

I know, I know, it’s still summer. At least in some parts of the world. In the southern hemisphere August is the last month of winter. And in Finland, summer is the time of the year that it can be sizzling hot or snowing. It’s all a mater of perspective. This is what this poem for the fall conveys.

Note: what follows is an excerpt from my Self Versus Self project, that contains a narrative poem and a literary-fiction novel. It’s not available for sale, but see the bottom of this post for info on how to download it for free.

A Poem for The Fall (excerpt from Self Versus Self)

The summer gone, the fall unplugged the fan,
and freezing rain began to wet the soil.
Mercurial disorder struck the man,
as Fates’ unknown designs he sought to foil.

Important changes had indeed occurred,
his office job he’d merrily resigned.
By life’s acute confusion he was spurred,
perhaps, he thought, the way is found when blind.

At home, if one could really call it such,
the state of things was puzzlingly unchanged.
His child aloof, and didn’t say too much,
his wife was calm, though still – he thought – deranged.

The most important change of all, Sandrine:
They hadn’t met, not once in two whole weeks.
The cast removed, a new phase could begin.
He felt unused, and volumes whole this speaks.

There was another reason for this all,
Sandrine had found a new love for the fall.

---

Sandrine had met her on a dating site
(another way nowadays there hardly is),
her picture sent to Alex with delight,
to hear the true opinion of his.

He thought she did look young and very shy,
an inexperienced college girl, perchance.
He didn’t voice a comment so much dry,
and said that cute she seemed at quick first glance.

He didn’t want to fool himself, for sure,
aware he was of deep unconscious thoughts.
It wasn’t jealousy the thought impure,
but envy that his mind suffused with blots.

Sandrine now spent her time with someone new,
and he was happy for her heart aflame.
But pain immense and sharp inside him grew,
he wanted to experience the same.

Oh well, he thought, these things will take their course,
as long as Kate again talks of divorce.

---

To rake the garden Alex much enjoyed,
because it was predictable and safe.
Unless if one with haste the rake deployed,
then fate a man with misery would strafe.

The falling leaves he gathered every fall,
the ruby red, the brown and yellow too.
He raked them peacefully, the big and small,
he cleared the path that every year they strew.

And so that year as well he did the same,
with one exception fit for much unease;
anomaly, or so would one proclaim.
He raked the yard when leaves were still on trees.

The neighbors asked him what was going on,
his mouth kept shut like an Egyptian tomb.
They left; and Alex lay down on the lawn,
a man miscarried from the earthly womb.

A sound was heard that broke the silent gray,
as Kate approached and next to Alex lay.

---

Her eyes as bright as summer blooms in June,
she smiled and passed her hand around his arm.
And then she spoke, her voice pure crystal croon,
and tried to mesmerize him with her charm.

“It’s getting cold my darling, come inside,
we could enjoy a cup of green mint tea.
The leaves still green, they’ve barely even dried,
and certainly not fallen from the tree.”

He smiles a bit surprised but thankful still,
for he prefers her smile than bitter tears.
But still incertitude his heart does fill,
“let’s talk about divorce” is all he hears.

“I’ve made lasagna, darling, have you tried?
Let’s have some lunch when Morgan comes from class.
Oh by the way, I fear her pet rat died.
A new one get for her, her grief will pass.”

So Kate and Morgan talked behind his back,
another loss just added to the stack.

Most of my novels are available as an immediate free download – simply visit the Fiction page on the main site. And remember, you can also just email me and ask for a free, no-strings-attached (e.g. review etc.) digital copy of any of my books.