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Skeletons of Lace

Skeletons of Lace Autumn’s leaves decorate lanes with discarded artistry – A bright collage in maple, oak and poplar hues; Too soon the colors fade like early fading twilights; No restoration possible – no color tint renewed. At the feet of Autumn, litter of autumnal dust, Crumpled remnants – the season’s still life portrait lies; Cracked and brittle shells of shady summer portraitures Gathered for a funeral pyre – one last good-bye. Fall sweeps in on icy wings yet one last leaf remains Gone the green of summer’s blush – autumn’s repose - Once life giving veins - a ghostly skeleton revealed - A clear lacy legacy, to birth new life, exposed. Best New Poem - October 2020 1st Place Writing Challenge - Decay - Constance LaFrance 10-20-20 1st Place Completely Your Choice - Brian Strand 11/11/20 1st Place Podium Placing - Brian Strand Chosen for PS It's Poetry 9-15-22 Contest: Poetry Marathon Mile 14 Sponsor: Mark Toney

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Line Gauthier

Date: 1/20/2021 4:08:00 PM

Beautiful tribute to autumn, Sam ~ so glad to see it published in the 2020 PS Anthology ~

Sam Kauffman
Date: 1/21/2021 11:13:00 AM

Thank you so much Line! It truly is an honor to be included in the anthology along with other inspired and inspirational poems like yours! Your continued support means so much to me. When I came to the soup, you were one of the first to reach out! Hope you are doing well - one day at a time. Sending you warm blessings for a winter day!

John Watt

Date: 1/8/2021 12:59:00 PM

Sam, your 'discarded artistry' still has plenty of life in it! Loved seeing this in the anthology and again this week in two winners' circles. Your talent for depicting nature is phenomenal and always a pleasure to read; big congrats! ~ John

Sam Kauffman
Date: 1/21/2021 11:09:00 AM

Your message puts a :) on this face and joy in my heart! It is an uplifting blessing of encouragement. Thank you dear friend. The seasons and nature just seem to give me words. Was so honored to see this in the winners circles and in the anthology among such wonderful poems as your Starry Night which I just love. Sending you blessings!

John Hamilton

Date: 1/8/2021 11:55:00 AM

Congrats on another win with this excellent write, worthy of all the accolades!

Sam Kauffman
Date: 1/21/2021 10:51:00 AM

Thank you so much John. Watching the leaves decay into lace sculptures is an amazing experience. And knowing they make rich loam for new life is truly an amazing realization. All the best. Sending you warm blessings for your winter days.

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 1/3/2021 4:31:00 PM

big congrats on your number one win with this one, Sam! Happy New Year to you too.

Sam Kauffman
Date: 1/21/2021 10:47:00 AM

Thank you my friend. So appreciate your congratulatory words! Hope you are having a good new year. Have been enjoying the fruits of your pen! Blessings!

Gary Radice

Date: 1/3/2021 3:12:00 AM

Great poem Sam, and one I read several times. I was fascinated by the structure of the poem and actually read it once with the final stanza first. Hope I'm right here, but loved the description of trees (?) as skeletons without their leaves and the funeral pyres referring to the burning on leaves on bonfires. The theme of rebirth comes through beautifully. Your poem that describes a lack of colour was actually very colourful. Cheers - Gary

Sam Kauffman
Date: 1/21/2021 10:45:00 AM

Hi Gary! You have a real talent for getting to the heart and intent of poems with a gift of observation that comes through in your writing. Thank you for your wonderful message and comments that uplift me and encourage me. I am so appreciative of your words and your visits. Sending you warm wishes in the cold of winter!

Carol Mitra

Date: 1/3/2021 2:53:00 AM

Such an awesome piece of lace :)Congrats on your win Sam :)

Sam Kauffman
Date: 1/21/2021 10:39:00 AM

As you can tell, I am WAY behind in answering messages. Thank you Carol. I have always been fascinated by the lace created as a leaf decays. This poem was so much fun to create. Many thanks for your visit and your congratulations! Warm wishes for these cold winter days.

Malabika Ray Choudhury

Date: 10/25/2020 2:39:00 PM

Adding to my faves. Congrats again. Mala

Sam Kauffman
Date: 10/27/2020 12:17:00 PM

I am honored, Mala! Thank you for your fav and your congratulations! Always wonderful to hear from you my friend! Sending you harvest blessings.

Tom Cunningham

Date: 10/19/2020 9:19:00 PM

Congratulations Sam, top of the best poem list. Over Fork Over. Hope you are well. Tom

Sam Kauffman
Date: 10/23/2020 3:01:00 PM

Thank you so much Tom. It is an unbelievable honor to be among such wonderful writers on the list. Take care. Sending harvest blessings. Over Fork Over

John Watt

Date: 10/19/2020 1:52:00 PM

Hi Sam, you hit it out of the park! I just adored the line "Autumn’s leaves decorate lanes with discarded artistry"; so original and descriptive of the decay that is part of the circle of nature, and what makes autumn so beautiful! Your verbal "seasonings" of dust, litter, remnants, shells, skeleton, paint a picture of gloominess, but hope is restored in the last line pointing to spring resurrection. Beautifully done, congrats on your win with Constance and Best New Poem. Blessings always ~ John

John Watt
Date: 10/20/2020 12:32:00 AM

Except your poetry is never in the cellar! You are the New York Yankees of poetry, my friend, with winner after winner. Your consistency of writing amazing, beautiful, thought-provoking verse continues to dazzle me. What a gift.

Sam Kauffman
Date: 10/19/2020 3:34:00 PM

Thank you so much, John! I was so delighted with the win in Constance's contest but the Best New Poem was like going from the cellar to the World Series! What an honor!! :) That first line set up the rest of the poem and the images. I never thought it would receive such an accolade! I am so appreciative of your constant support and perceptions! You always see the building blocks of a poem - a gift my dear friend! Blessings!

Evelyn Judy Buehler

Date: 10/18/2020 9:17:00 PM

Sam, your masterpiece poem so vividly decsribes the beautiful, colorful death which occurs in autumn. Congratulations on both your well deserved win, and your number one ranking on the Best New Poems list. This poem is a fave for me. :)

Evelyn Judy Buehler
Date: 10/20/2020 12:50:00 PM

I am indeed enjoying autumn, I am happy to say. :)

Sam Kauffman
Date: 10/19/2020 1:41:00 PM

I am deeply honored by your gracious message, Evelyn - and your fave. Thank you just doesn't quite express my gratitude. The #1 ranking was a complete surprise. It has put a Monday :) on my face. Hope you are enjoying the blessings of autumn my friend.

Gershon Wolf

Date: 10/18/2020 6:57:00 PM

Congrats, Sam, on this lovely first place winner -- and on it ranking #1 on the Best New Poems list! Kudos, Gershon

Sam Kauffman
Date: 10/18/2020 7:16:00 PM

Thank you so much Gershon! Was totally surprised, and honored, with the ranking - so many outstanding poems! Almost speechless almost. Thank you for letting me know. In the last day or so I haven't had time to look at the rankings. This was such a nice surprise. The Bears pulled one out - Kudos!

Malabika Ray Choudhury

Date: 10/17/2020 4:10:00 PM

Congratulations, Sam. How vividly descriptive piece! Love this line - A clear lacy legacy, to birth new life, exposed. Hugs, Mala

Sam Kauffman
Date: 10/19/2020 1:21:00 PM

Your messages always bring a :) to my face. They mean a lot to me. Thank you for your congratulatory note. I love autumn too! I am so happy to know you love the poems. Harvest blessings my friend! Have been enjoying your pennings!

Angela Crabtree

Date: 10/17/2020 8:53:00 AM

A wonderful write for the season, Sam. A favorite for me. :) My favorite line, "Cracked and brittle shells of shady summer portraitures" ~Angie

Sam Kauffman
Date: 10/19/2020 1:17:00 PM

Thank you Angela both for your gracious compliment and for your fav - an honor to be sure! Hope you are staying well!

Anisha Dutta

Date: 10/14/2020 8:48:00 PM

Congrats Sam to win first place. I always enjoy your poem

Sam Kauffman
Date: 10/19/2020 1:14:00 PM

It brings me joy to know you enjoy these poems - :). Thank you for your always encouraging messages and for your congratulations! Blessings my friend.

Jo Chamberlain

Date: 10/13/2020 11:57:00 PM

I really enjoyed reading your poem. I love Autumn. Congratulations on your placement. :-) x

Sam Kauffman
Date: 10/19/2020 1:10:00 PM

Hi Joanna! So nice to meet you! Thank you for visiting and for your congratulatory note. So appreciated. I too love autumn - a marvelous wonder of color and abundance. All the best to you!

Janice Canerdy

Date: 10/13/2020 6:22:00 PM

Vividly descriptive piece, Sam. CONGRATS on your win. Janice

Linda Alice Fowler

Date: 10/13/2020 1:57:00 PM

Nicely penned Sam. Very uplifting and paints a lovely picture. Congratulations on the win! Linda

Anne-Lise Andresen

Date: 9/30/2020 5:37:00 AM

- A lot of beautiful to see in nature in the autumn ... I'm out to shoot every day, Sam :) - Congratulations on your top win :) - hugs // Anne-Lise :)

Sam Kauffman
Date: 10/5/2020 2:37:00 PM

Thank you Anne-Lise! Fall truly is a harvest for the eyes - much to feast on! Sounds like you are getting out into the fresh air before winter arrives. That is great! Sending you a harvest of hugs!

Eve Roper

Date: 9/29/2020 9:14:00 PM

Lovely canvas you've written, Sam, congratulations on your win! Hugs Eve

Sam Kauffman
Date: 10/5/2020 1:18:00 PM

Thank you Eve for your message of congratulations. It is so appreciated! Sending hugs and an elbow bump back!

Sigrid Ermine

Date: 9/29/2020 2:40:00 PM

Sam, I admire your Autumn poem a lot. Very haunting in tone, 'fall sweeps in on icy wings' sounds magnificent, as well as four line ends, from a mere twelve, end in ' renewed, remain, repose, revealed' which I find awesome, makes it even more excellent a structure. Congratulations for its well earned Number One Win!!!

Sam Kauffman
Date: 9/29/2020 3:13:00 PM

Sigrid, thank you so much. I am so sorry I have not responded to your wonderful messages sooner - will remedy that! Thank you for your congratulations and your gracious feedback - much appreciated. I love your comments. They encourage me. All the best. Sending you autumn blessings!

Constance La France

Date: 9/29/2020 1:40:00 PM

Sam, congratulations on your win in my Decay Writing Challenge with this excellent poem, a FAV for me _Constance

Sam Kauffman
Date: 10/5/2020 1:21:00 PM

Constance, I love your themes! They always get me to turn life upside down and see with a new perspective. I am so honored by your FAV and your congratulations! Thank you for all that you do to encourage us on the soup with your creative contests! Hugs and prayers my friend!

Paula Goldsmith

Date: 9/29/2020 11:19:00 AM

Congratulations on your win. I love this wonderful write and I love Autumn. It is a wonderful time of the year. Enjoy your win............

Sam Kauffman
Date: 10/5/2020 2:31:00 PM

Hi Paula! It is a wonderful time of year. I also love autumn. Thank you for visiting and for your congratulatory message. All the best to you!

Linda Alice Fowler

Date: 9/29/2020 9:42:00 AM

"Fall sweeps in on icy wings..." loving this! Congratulations on the win Sam! Linda

Sam Kauffman
Date: 10/5/2020 2:30:00 PM

Thank you Linda. It makes me happy to know you liked the language in this write. I had fun delving into the "debris" of fall. Hope you are well. Warm fall wishes!

Susan Ashley

Date: 9/28/2020 6:57:00 PM

Oh, this is absolutely stunning in both emotional and sensory imagery, Sam. Your second stanza is especially poignant. There is such beauty even in the decay of Nature's lacy leaves! Your poem is an Autumn gem, my friend. Warmest wishes.. your poet partner in crime.. er.. or was it rhyme? :)) ~Susan

Sam Kauffman
Date: 10/5/2020 2:27:00 PM

Hi Susan. Thank you so much my partner in rhyme-crime! I am way behind in answering email messages - Mea Culpa! I am so grateful for your always thoughtful and insightful comments. They are like a poem in themselves. It is always a delight to find these "lacy leaves" and see God's marvelous handiwork. All the best! Sending your harvest blessings and an autumn elbow bump! Hugs!

Michelle Faulkner

Date: 9/28/2020 3:19:00 PM

So striking, love the contrast of green summer and autumn's repose, the lace of fall so lovely, best wishes for the contest~

Sam Kauffman
Date: 9/28/2020 4:17:00 PM

Hi Michelle! Thank you for your lovely message and best wishes - can always use positive energy! I love finding those decaying leaves that look like lace. They remind me that nature always leaves milk and cookies for the next season. We have had fires break out - looks like we will be having more smoke and haze. Hope you are doing well! All the best.