Regina Elliott | + Follow Poet |
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Autumnal New York

Shimmering in a chilly mist,
skyscrapers overlooking NYC.
August left into September's cooler mornings,
schoolchildren dressed in plaid and Hush Puppies.

In Central Park the leaves are a green-yellow,
squirrels scurry to store acorns.
Pretzel vendors appear as joggers feel
relieved from humidity,
in autumnal New York.

Driving headed north,
Upstate farms yield cider,
and the Catskills and Adirondack mountains
are banners of emerging colors.
Deer gather from the edge of the woodland
to drink from a pond as the fading moon sails,
in autumnal New York.

Years ago my siblings and I in our Long Island
suburban yard,
leapt into golden and red maple leaf piles,
and ate candy apples-
How much simpler and joyful our lives
were then,
in autumnal New York,
I wish I were still in,
autumnal New York. ~

Copyright © Regina Elliott | Year Posted 2024

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Kim Rodrigues Date: 8/27/2024 5:56:00 PM Love your poem! I grew up in Poughkeepsie & Hyde Park, spent time in the Catskills, and yes enjoyed the lovely things of childhood! Did you ever go to the Catskill Game Farm? Login to Reply Regina Elliott Date: 8/29/2024 6:01:00 AM Hi Km, yes, we went to the Catskill Game Farm, absolutely enjoyed it. My 93 year old mother lives in Oneonta, my father passed away 10 years ago. Upstate NY is so beautiful. I hope you have a lovely blessed day. Hugs :)

Tom Cunningham Date: 8/23/2024 4:01:00 AM I hope to go there one day it's on my bucket list. Two of my daughters have been and loved it. Tom Login to Reply Regina Elliott Date: 8/24/2024 10:04:00 AM Hi Tom, NYC isn't what it used to be. There's more crime. If you go, stay in your hotel at night. I recall as a young adult venturing into Manhattan with my friends and visiting the WTC observation deck, it was amazing. I was able to do that on four trips to the city. Thank you so much for stopping by! Blessings :)

Howard Kerr Date: 8/21/2024 7:43:00 PM Regina, This is Howard. Many thanks for your comments on my work which is something I always truly value. Autumnal New York is vintage Regina writing. A judicious mixture of harking back nostalgia with concrete references to present day reality. Wishing you the best life can offer Warm regards Howard Login to Reply Regina Elliott Date: 8/24/2024 10:12:00 AM Thank you so much, good poetry friend. There's much beauty in North Carolina in autumn, but my growing up in New York will always have a special place in my heart and soul. Have a lovely Irish afternoon. Blessings :)

Kim Rodrigues Date: 8/20/2024 11:41:00 AM Yes, Autumn in NY, Apples fresh, and cider, those innocent days! I remember! Login to Reply Regina Elliott Date: 8/21/2024 7:26:00 AM Hi Kim, fellow native New Yorker. Oh, those youthful days of being a New Yorker, how I miss them. I'm so glad you like this poem. Many blessings to you and your family. :)

Gershon Wolf Date: 8/18/2024 6:50:00 PM Sounds idyllic! Hard to believe that it was New York... Of course, I can remember when there were farms just outside the city limits of Chicago, in what is now suburban Skokie, IL, population about 75,000... And when Naperville, IL had about 5,000 people (now over 200,000). Login to Reply Regina Elliott Date: 8/19/2024 6:23:00 AM Things sure have changed population wise. New York has had a big influx of migrants. Sounds like the greater Chicago area is bursting. Where I live, we've had a big population increase. Doctor appointments and seeing a specialist take longer, ERs are overcrowded. Have a good Monday, Gershon. :)))))