Autumn's Last Bloom

In the hush where summer 
has already surrendered,
autumn flowers unfurl with
a defiant, molten grace.

Chrysanthemum burn in
burnished amber and saffron,
petals layered like antique 
parchment catching the late 
light.
Dahlias deepen into
oxblood and plum, velvet
crowns that hold the dusk
inside them.
Asters tremble in lavender 
mist and violet dusk, small
constellations against the 
cooling air.
Marigolds flare in carnelian
and gilded gold, stubborn 
suns refusing to dim.
And the last roses- oh, the
last roses- blush in
russet, claret, and 
copper,
their edges kissed with the
melancholy of frost.

They do not mourn the
shortening days.
They incandescent.
They are the earth's final,
extravagant exhale- 
a chromatic elegy written in
pigment and perfume.

Crisp wind combs through
them, and they answer
with color so rich it feels like
a benediction:
ochre, bronze, burgundy,
mahogany, and sunset coral.
Every stem a small rebellion 
against fading.
Every bloom a reminder that 
endings can be opulent.

Autumn doesn't take the
garden quietly.
It dresses it in jewels, and
sets it on fire with beauty,
before letting it go.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2026

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