Skipping and hopping,
from petal to leaf,
chased by beetles,
is a nectar thief!
Jack Frost’s cousin,
Chill, the Fall sprite,
arrives every October,
to the beetle’s fright.
“Stop right now,
you hairy beast!”
Stinkbugs shout
but he flees east.
He turns the nectar,
into golden art,
dabbed on leaves —
summer’s torn apart.
From nectar to mold,
black spots of blight
multiply and dismay,
as he zigzags in flight.
October’s arrived and
Autumn’s show has begun.
Protest though you may,
he will have his fun.
Copyright 2015 Brenda Davis Harsham
41 thoughts on “Fields of Fun”
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Friendly Fairy Tales 
Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
SURE ENOUGH ARE! 🙂
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He think he will! 😉 That was a lovely tale Brenda, would be good to hear that read. Probably quite fast I would imagine. As fast as Mr Chill and Jack frost! 🙂
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I should do MP3s. Maybe I would if I had your lovely British accent. 😉
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But I like some of the American accents, they can sound so elegant. I don’t think it matters what your accent is, it’s all about confidence, but you have to feel comfortable with the idea. No point in doing something like that if it’s outside the comfort zone. I hope you do one day Brenda! 🙂
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Perhaps I will. 🙂 So much to do, so little time. XOXO
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The naughty little autumn sprite will have his fun and we’ll have ours! Have a lovely day Brenda. I love the bright pink daisies.
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Thanks, Lavender. I hope your day is lovely, too. In fact, I’ll throw in the whole week! Have a great one! 🙂
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Whimsical and delightful! 🙂
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Thank you!
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I love the way you weave magic out of the natural world.
Maybe I should take a vacation from killing wives, and just sit and smell the roses for a while!
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Perhaps their spell will soften your edges, and help you get lost in a dreamworld of heather blooming by a secret loch, a fine mist bringing the scent of salmon cooking. No one around for miles, but in the far distance, the sound of the bagpipes. On the hillside, two rosebushes flank a cottage door. It’s your retreat for writing, healing, remembering and just being.
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This is so delightful, Brenda. 🙂
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Thanks!! It was hard to write, putting a whole story into a few lines. 🙂
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You did a great job. 🙂
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How lovely of you to say! XOXO
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I loved this playful, charming look at what is going on behind the scenes in the garden. I can picture Jack Frost’s cousin hiding under the leaves, petals and oh, then dabbing chilled sap as paint creating art. You make the dreaded Chill come alive and almost likable in your whimsical “take.”
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Thanks, Robin. I had fun telling a new flower fairy tale. 🙂
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What a beautiful ode to Autumn, dear Bren… I love when the Fall sprite shows up… and it was so nice to see her among your verses too… Sending you love and all my best wishes!. Aquileana 😀
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I’m glad you liked my Fall sprite. I imagine him as a redhead, starting wars among the beetles like a male Helen of Troy. 😉 Have a great week!
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Lots of berries everywhere, here – and lots of people saying ‘with so many berries, we must be in for a hard winter!’
I’m reserving my judgement.
Love the poem whatever the weather!
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Thanks, David. I have my fingers crossed for a mild winter, despite having bought a snowblower the size of a dray horse (almost).
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Lovely poem Brenda .. And yes the chill is in the air and Jack Frost is creeping up closer to sprinkle his magic during the night..
Lovely photo’s.. Have a fabulous week xxx
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Thanks, Sue. You have a great week, too!
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Love it – thank you! Here in the southern climes, the beetles, bees and aphids have formed an alliance of the righteous and have turned chill away at the border. Sorry to be a pessimist, and to ruin a beautiful fun poem, but if you look hard enough politics and conspiracies are everywhere. Just now I’m sure my neighbours in my garden.
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The South does have the warmest Octobers. Up here in New England, we have to fear Old Man Winter. He’s coming. Thanks for commenting!
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Love this one! I hope everyone is late to the winter party. I’m not even dressed yet 😉
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He’s only getting started. It’ll take a while to hit every leaf. 😉
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i love that they are chasing away ‘chill.’ he’s such a tease )
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Just so — I’m glad you like the name, I thought long and hard about it.
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“…chased by beetles,” I love it. What a fabulous poem. 🙂
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Thanks! Don’t aggravate the beetles unless you have wings and know how to use them. 🙂
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I really like your image of a “nectar thief”!!! I have roses blooming, roses that I cut back about a month ago (wrong time I know), and they all came out again. It is still summer where I live in San Francisco.
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Old Man Winter doesn’t hang out on the Bay. 😉
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What a fun poem; enjoyed this treat.
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Great comment, thanks!
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Certainly feels like anything ‘But’ frost for an October doesn’t it? flowers are blooming and ants are still searching, It’s like Jack Frost decided to take a long long holiday!
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I’m just as happy he’s late, because Summer was late, too.
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This is very very true! 🙂
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I figure we’re owed a mild winter.
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But but I want a white xmas
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I’ll be happy to look at pictures of snow this year. 😉
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