Suzanne Delaney | + Follow Poet |
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Raking Leaves

Autumn 2001
Dooralong Valley, NSW Australia

A 40 acre property to retire to - kept us 
far more busy than  our ‘working life’.
The swimming pool - that bright blue jewel
that bane of our existence, occupied us
incessantly, especially 
when Autumn leaves covered the lawn.

Preemptively I would rake them, and rake them
and rake them before the wind could take them
to spread them on the pool 
If I missed raking them, then with a net
I’d be scooping them, and scooping them
heavy, soaking and wet.

I was almost glad when our one ton stud bull 
escaped into the home yard,
plunged into the pool, and put his hoof 
through the lining, 
No more raking that year but Summer was
the longest and hottest yet.

Fall Flavors Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Regina McIntosh

Copyright © Suzanne Delaney | Year Posted 2022

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Daniel Turner Date: 3/17/2023 3:16:00 PM Hey SuZ. Just peeking through the windows. I loved what I saw. Hoping you are well and are somewhere enjoying life:) Login to Reply Suzanne Delaney Date: 3/21/2023 2:27:00 AM Hi Daniel: Yes Lots of water under the bridge since this incident. Being a snowbird at the moment but missing spring. So nice to have you peeking through my windows. Hope you are well. SuZ

Howard Kerr Date: 10/14/2022 10:31:00 AM Hi Suz, A delightful poem about patience, perseverance and painstaking detail which can sometimes backfire. A contender for the cinema in my opinion. Warm regards Howard Login to Reply Suzanne Delaney Date: 10/14/2022 12:38:00 PM Hi Howard: Glad you enjoyed. Yes…..most often truth is stranger than fiction. SuZ

Sara Kendrick Date: 10/6/2022 5:26:00 AM Reads like a good contender to me for the contest. Way to go. We had an in-ground pool for years which my husband finally filled it with soil. I then had an above ground pool for about half the amount of time. They do require a large amount of time, effort, money, and people to enjoy them. Those leaves are something else. With the above ground pool, I purchased a cover like an umbrella to cover it which worked fairly well but finally broke. Sad day for me. Thanks for your visit to my page. Sara Login to Reply Suzanne Delaney Date: 10/14/2022 12:31:00 PM Hi Sara: Thanks for your lovely comment. I think the all over pool cages would be a good way to go now. Keeps the bugs out as well. SuZ

Valsa George Date: 9/21/2022 8:50:00 PM A boon can be a bane too. To own a 40 acre property cannot be in the wildest dream of an ordinary man. Keeping it neat especially in Autumn is indeed a herculean task. I imagine you still raking leaves in your yard and in the pool :) All the Best Suzanne.... Login to Reply Suzanne Delaney Date: 10/6/2022 6:31:00 AM Hi Valsa, No….that has been sold long ago. It is still possible to go from nothing to buying property but it takes an endless amount of work but something we enjoyed. Yes you could describe it as herculean. Thanks for your always, thoughtful comments. SuZ

Andrea Dietrich Date: 9/18/2022 9:09:00 AM hahaha. LOVE this story. It's so interesting you were in Australia and had a pool. I always wanted one, but for sure, not near trees!! My dream house would have a pool in the CENTER of the house. Like that will ever happen. Hope this one gets a win Login to Reply Suzanne Delaney Date: 9/18/2022 11:57:00 AM Ha ha Andrea: Glad it gave you a good laugh. Yes the dream indoor pool. Only have one if you can have a pool boy….to rake the leaves that is. Luv, SuZ

P.S. Awtry Date: 9/17/2022 10:46:00 AM “Preemptively I would rake them, and rake them and rake them before the wind could take them to spread them on the pool”—this is like a Poe nightmare! Much enjoyed this poetic reminder that every blessing has its burden! :) ps Login to Reply Suzanne Delaney Date: 9/17/2022 1:41:00 PM Thanks PS: I enjoyed you comment and will say, Quoth the leaves forevermore LOL SuZ

Vijay Pandit Date: 9/16/2022 12:32:00 PM That's a lot of property and lot of leaves to rake. No matter how hard--memories always retain the joy of yore --as you so well illustrate, SuZ. Login to Reply Suzanne Delaney Date: 9/16/2022 1:02:00 PM Ha Ha Vijay: Luckily I only had to rake the home yard close to the pool and you are right about memories. They always reappear in a more joyful light.

Rico Leffanta Date: 9/16/2022 11:28:00 AM You certainly earned the bull prize with this one! Enjoyed! Aloha! Login to Reply Suzanne Delaney Date: 9/16/2022 1:41:00 PM Hi Rico. Thanks for the laugh and for stopping by. We sold him soon after this incident and said Aloha. LOL SuZ

Tom Cunningham Date: 9/16/2022 10:04:00 AM Enjoyed your verse Suz, it's often said when you retire that there isn't enough hours in the day, how true that is. Gotta ask, did the bull survive? Hope you're keeping well. Tom Login to Reply Suzanne Delaney Date: 9/16/2022 10:13:00 AM I agree Tom: Never enough hours in the day. Yes, he was fine ….. not a scratch. He was a huge Charolais. Beautiful beast. SuZ