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October Dusky Flame

Written: October 03, 2026, for a contest Sponsored by Brian Strand:

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dusky flame of October ignites
coaxing cryptic cinders— 
cold secret glow—
enshrouded hemlocks peridot canopy
       vellum bends softly down,
       as alabaster 
       weaving... drifting

clouds splay—saffron sigh-aria,
vestiges of venerable vows drift  
across sandstone slopes
dissolving twilight into luminous sequins,
       sonata weaving gossamer breaths 
       mourning ...lingering

by brackish banks of a brooding bay 
where weeping willows wilt
malachite manes veiled in a merciless mist
an oriole’s silken spell lingers—
       an amber lattice 
       winged to westerly’s low choral hum
       wreathed in green 
       h u s h... 
 
as coral arias ripple from a sun sinking 
a golden-weaver casts silken spells 
wind whispers its mournful tunes...
 waves weave as sparkling threads,
       pearl lace embracing dawn’s arrival
       a sparrow’s lute sighs, 
       in arms of weary 
       a u t u m n.

oasis quivering with unborn visions
coral chords cascade, a sinking sphere
sings a silken symphony 
of spectral sorrow 
       where opal dances in misty pearlescence
       a gauzy breeze wraps hornbeams in copper—
       their branches adorned in sequins and frost 
       a shimmering, melodic rhapsody.

scarlet burns where 
veiled woodland verses 
v i b r a t e . . .
bleeding bittersweet ballads . . .
silvery shades serenade
       without whimsical whispers
       on leafless aspen boughs
       faint breaths beckon—a bruised h u s h . . . 
       ominous oracle—odyssey ends.

flowers with warm scent sway
edibles yield tremendous zest
birds belt bewitching ballads
across mellow peaks—and mesas 
       heart hastens—halcyon heartbeat:
       a silent spirit symbiosis with
       static e a r t h . . . 
       ethereal echoes entwined

leaving skeletal boughs 
as oracles of aching f a r e w e l l...
life lingers, leaping linear
appearing alluringly.

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I Am Anaya October 9, 2026 at 4:18 PM Belated congratulations, a beautiful autumn picture, alliteration alive. Well deserving, Sotto Poet. 💐

Alison A Smith October 8, 2026 at 6:06 PM Your form flows through cascading lines, delicate indentations, and spaced lettering that let “hush” and “farewell” linger. Rich jewel-toned imagery and interwoven musical phrases give autumn a shimmering, elegiac presence, balancing its abundance with the ache of departure. Congratulations on your podium win in the contest 🌹

Andrea Dietrich October 6, 2026 at 1:50 PM Very beautiful. I agree with Valsa and what she said about that last stanza especially

Valsa George October 5, 2026 at 7:13 PM How I wish if i could write one stanza of this type! This is a marvel of a poem with images cascading down one after other like autumn leaves. Every line is written using choicest words. This poem about autumn when trees stand naked "leaving skeletal boughs as oracles of aching f a r e w e l l... life lingers, leaping linear appearing alluringly." Wow! Into my FAVE

Hiya Sharma October 3, 2026 at 10:51 PM Oh wow the word choices here are impeccable and so ingenious dear Sotto! I'm loving the way you've described dusky flame! "an amber lattice winged to westerly’s low choral hum wreathed in green " The imagery throughout is wowzersss! Absolutely! "heart hastens—halcyon heartbeat: a silent spirit symbiosis with static e a r t h . . . " You've so artistically used alluring alliterations and adjectives throughout! Like a painting! Vivid and evocative ~ best wishes, enjoyed reading this, keep shininnnn n writinnnn 🍁🍂💫⭐