Happy Poetry Friday!
As the end of August draws near, I'm sharing a haiku that I wrote a few years back. I remember walking a particular path the year I wrote this and noticing, as I always do in August, the intensity of grasshopperly activity.
I hope that as your summer draws to a close, the subtle sense of shifting seasons brings you joy, surprise, or delight.
Summer's End
by Karen Edmisten
August, morning walk.
The grasshoppers' pole vaulting,
a season shifting.
~~~~~~~~~~
The Poetry Friday round-up is being hosted by Linda at TeacherDance.
I love the image you create of a grasshopper track meet! I can see them vaulting from one stem to the next.
ReplyDeleteTracey, they also tend to vault against my legs as I walk! Eewww. :D
DeletePole-vaulting is exactly what they do! I laugh as I walk my dog who snaps at them as they pole-vault by snout-high. They drive her crazy.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely image. I’m going to be sniggering on our walk today…
Lou, our dog used to do the same thing. So sweet and funny. (I still miss having her walk with me!)
DeleteKaren, thank you for sharing this sweet post. It's a perfect haiku for late August. Love the grasshopper pole-vaulting, a reminder of the season shifting. Each word is so carefully crafted.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Denise!
DeleteI've seen no grasshoppers yet, a surprise. Love the idea of "pole-vaulting", Karen - perfect! We are much cooler today, hoping you will find good weather, too!
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to the cooler weather, Linda. No more 100s, thank you. :)
DeleteI remember grasshoppers. I remember the abundance of them, "pole-vaulting" away from the edge of the weedy path. I remember their prickly feet and their "tobacco juice" spit. It makes me unspeakably sad that they exist only in my memory...
ReplyDeleteYou describe them so perfectly, Mary Lee. Another poem. ❤️
DeleteA grasshoppers leg is a pole vault! Clever and fun connection. Enjoy the "season shifting," Karen.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Janice! Hope you enjoy it, too.
DeleteI hate grasshoppers--but pole vaulting is fabulous!
ReplyDeleteI'm certainly no fan of the way they pole vault against my legs as I walk, Laura! Yuck. :) They always signal the end of summer to me, and remind me that August has slipped away.
DeleteOh, lovely! Well... since I'd like the little miscreants to vault over and OUT of my lettuce, perhaps not quite lovely, but I can feel affection for these little guys as they vault away...
ReplyDeleteI can't say I feel affection for them, Tanita, so I'm fine with it not being lovely, lol. But they are such a singular sign of summer's end to me. Well, maybe not singular — there's also the cicadas' song. I used to always associate the start of the cicada music with the end of Atticus's summer break. :)
DeleteThe intensity of grasshoppers is a true observation! They are intense at the end of August. And, tough! Your haiku reminds me of students training for track-and-field after school as one season shifts to another. Beautiful. And, I must say, a Karen Edmisten original is just what is needed for me today.
ReplyDeleteAw, Linda, thank you! That made my day. And I love the season-shifting image of the track-and-field kids!
DeleteKaren, I don't see grasshoppers here so your poem brings a great visual to me at the end of August. Thanks for the Haiku Happiness!
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure, Carol! I can't say I'd really *miss* grasshoppers if I moved somewhere... lol!
DeleteI can feel the shift of the season with their movement -- very nice, Karen! (Here we have cicadas, which mostly make a lot of noise and leave carcasses around.)
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, we have cicadas, too. So loud, and yet I somehow love their song. Don't love the carcasses though. :)
DeleteI am seeing pole-vaulting grasshoppers too, Karen. Though this morning, one stubborn gray guy was basking on the front steps pretty happy to be at rest. Now I will always think of August when I see them.
ReplyDeleteHa, your stubborn gray friend must have been exhausted from all his pole-vaulting. :)
DeleteJust yesterday at the river, I noticed an abundance of grasshoppers. Your haiku give such a great visual
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jone!
DeleteReading through the comments made me realize I haven't seen grasshoppers in a while. Where are they? Probably out pole-vaulting somewhere! Great visual.
ReplyDeleteHmm, I wonder where yours have gone, Rose? Are they at a private track-and-field event?
DeleteWhat a great image for the changing season, Karen!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Anastasia!
DeleteI've never thought of grasshoppers pole vaulting and it's such a great action image. Beautiful photo and poem!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Karen! And, argh, you made me realize I forgot to credit the photo. It's not mine, it was a Pixabay find. I need to remember those credits!
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