Falling Like Leaves

Oh, how a fair breeze of Autumn can stir My heart with reprieves - the redolent leaves Remembrance of romance with you in a blur Soft eyes in a camber of absinthe and amber Wheaty hair spilling like corn silk, to shoulders Framing two spicy bow lips as they smoldered ... Falling like leaves ... for you. Oh, how this time lifts me back to a dream Our ivy-clad schools, such unripened fools A world as our oyster, and raw, it would seem Escaped to the woods - discarding our goods We swam on a blanket of bright, leafy death Straining in passions to fever our breath ... Falling like leaves ... for you. Oh, how the chill always kindled our flame Pining each week for the rose of your cheek Weekends adoring the ways that you came Our fleshy memoirs 'neath branches and stars Each mutual climax far sweeter than last The moments exhausted, like us, far too fast ... Falling like leaves ... for you. Oh, Autumn still sings in my sinews today The libertine flood yet coursing my blood You waken my core in the most vexing way When October flies I ache for your sighs Tho' bones are now brittle the mem'ries remain Chaotic obsessions and prurient pains Someday I'll lose them, like tears in the rain ... Falling like leaves for you ... Falling ... in Deja vu. ~ 3rd Place ~ in the "Strand Choice B, Any Form, Any Theme" Poetry Contest, Brian Strand, Judge & Sponsor. ~ 2nd Place ~ in the "Your Choice Seasons-Festivals Verse, Any Form" Poetry Contest, Brian Strand, Judge & Sponsor. ~ 1st Place ~ in the "Your Choice (6), Any Form, Any Theme" Poetry Contest, Brian Strand, Judge & Sponsor. ~ 1st Place ~ in the "2019 Poetry Marathon Mile 4" Poetry Contest, Mark Toney, Judge & Sponsor. ~ 2nd Place ~ in the "Into The Woods" Poetry Contest, Silent One, Judge & Sponsor. ~ 2nd Place ~ in the "Best Rhyming Poem July Thru September" Poetry Contest, John Hamilton, Judge & Sponsor. ~ 1st Place ~ in the "Autumn Romance" Poetry Contest, Julie Rodeheaver, Judge & Sponsor. ( This is a form I created called "QARINAGE" - it has a very unusual-but-specific rhyme scheme and rhythm with a repeating refrain that is also the title. This is a re-working of an older piece )