Home » Poems » L Milton Hankins » Autumn Breeze and Burning Leaves

Autumn Breeze and Burning Leaves

When autumn breezes strew orange and gold Covering the green grass, don’t you know, Ol' Man Winter threatens brave and bold Umber and yellow colors before the snow. Covering the green grass, don’t you know, Wonderful the smell of burning leaves Umber and yellow colors before the snow Leaf-raking sweaty, I roll up my sleeves. Wonderful the smell of burning leaves Making eyes watery, tears down my cheek Leaf-raking sweaty, I roll up my sleeves Thinking I’ll leave the rest 'til next week. Making eyes watery, tears down my cheek The sniffles set in from a pesky allergy, Maybe I’ll leave the rest 'til next week Thinking then I might have more energy. The sniffles set in from a pesky allergy, Ol' Man Winter threatens brave and bold Thinking then I might have more energy, When autumn breezes strew orange and gold. FIRST PLACE WINNER Written September 1, 2022 Submitted to: “Autumn Pantoum” Poetry Contest Sponsored by Caren Krutsinger

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Kim Rodrigues

Date: 11/8/2022 2:01:00 PM

So lovely with colors and I can nearly smell the leaves burning. Taking in all the season has to bring. Congratulations, Milton!

L Milton Hankins
Date: 11/8/2022 5:58:00 PM

Kim, thanks so much for your kind comment.

Sam Kauffman

Date: 11/8/2022 10:27:00 AM

What a delightful slice of autumn you have served up Milt! It is truly visceral with the smell of burning leaves, the sniffles, a little autumn lethargy and some autumn procrastination just for good measure. I really enjoyed this wonderful writing from your autumn pen! Congrats and high fives! Blessings!

L Milton Hankins
Date: 11/8/2022 12:47:00 PM

Thank you, Sam, for your thoughtful and kind response to my poem. I enjoyed writing it, so I'm delighted you enjoyed reading it.

Linda Alice Fowler

Date: 11/8/2022 6:45:00 AM

Oh so beautiful Milt. Congratulations your win!

L Milton Hankins
Date: 11/8/2022 7:53:00 AM

Thanks so much, Linda. I appreciate your congrats.

Christuraj Alex

Date: 11/8/2022 5:08:00 AM

Indeed, a great work on autumn in pantoum form. Congratulations!

L Milton Hankins
Date: 11/8/2022 7:53:00 AM

Thanks, Chris. I love the form and use it a lot.

Terry Miller

Date: 11/8/2022 2:54:00 AM

Congratulations, Milton, you did wonders with this difficult form

L Milton Hankins
Date: 11/8/2022 7:53:00 AM

Thanks so much, Terry. I love working with it.

Sotto Poet

Date: 11/7/2022 12:37:00 PM

Congratulations on your contest's top win, Milt. It's well deserved with your wonderfully written Pantoum, my friend. Blessings

L Milton Hankins
Date: 11/7/2022 12:41:00 PM

Thanks so much, Lasaad. It's always a pleasure to hear from you. I'm glad you liked the poem.

Jenna Logan

Date: 9/2/2022 3:53:00 AM

Autumn is my favorite of the seasons, and your Pantoum expresses the time of falling leaves wonderfully. I hope it does well in the Caren's contest.

L Milton Hankins
Date: 9/2/2022 7:40:00 AM

Thanks, Jenna. I do, too. I like autumn, but it always spells the end of warm weather for me, and I am a summer freak!

Tom Cunningham

Date: 9/2/2022 1:18:00 AM

It doesn't seem five minutes ago that we were writing about spring and summer yet here we are at the crossroads of autumn. I must say it is my favourite season. Enjoy your weekend, im heading back home tomorrow. Tom

L Milton Hankins
Date: 9/2/2022 7:41:00 AM

Thank you, Tom. Have a good trip home. Hope you enjoyed your time in Spain.

Suzanne Delaney

Date: 9/1/2022 4:27:00 PM

My favorite season is almost here. Love this form, Milton: It almost writes itself. Great entry. SuZ

L Milton Hankins
Date: 9/1/2022 6:08:00 PM

Thank you so much for your comment, SuZ

Michael Tor

Date: 9/1/2022 3:43:00 PM

Milton you remind me when I was a Kid. I use to earn a little money by raking leaves. I didn't have the allergies but succumbed to everything else you wrote, lol. This was back in 1968, I would make two dollars after raking someones yard and picking the leafs up. Two dollars back then was like twenty dollars today,based on inflation. The dollar had more value, I looked it up it was 17.03 in today's value. I would do three yards in a day and head to the store for chips and soda. I felt like king

L Milton Hankins
Date: 9/1/2022 3:46:00 PM

Yeah, amazing what we kids were once willing to do for a pittance. Nowadays it's hard to get a kid to work for an hour under $20. I was an adult before I ever made $20 an hour. Hmmm...Michael, I can't recall ever making $20 an hour!

Michael Tor
Date: 9/1/2022 3:43:00 PM

Solomon, lol.