2006_10_01_archive

Autumn Leaves poem

Fall is here and the signs are all around us, even here in Texas. I

saw that this week's cover of The New Yorker magazine spoofs the

"natural" hues of Vermont's changing leaves--suggesting they are

actually painted on for the tourists. But I love the gold and red hues

that appear in the trees as the weather gets cooler. Here's an older

poem that captures this transition beautifully.

Autumn Leaves

by Leland B. Jacobs

1 Green leaves,

2 Yellow leaves,

3 Red leaves, and brown,

ALL Falling,

ALL Falling,

ALL Blanketing the town.

4 Oak leaves,

5 Maple leaves,

6 Apple leaves, and pear,

ALL Falling,

ALL Whispering,

ALL "Autumn's in the air!"

7 Big leaves,

8 Little leaves,

9 Pointed leaves, and round,

ALL Falling,

ALL Nestling,

ALL Carpeting the ground.

from: Jacobs, Leland B. 1993. Just Around the Corner: Poems about the

Seasons. New York: Henry Holt.

*I've suggested a format for reading the poem aloud with a group of 9

or more. Invite 9 volunteers to read single lines (labeled 1 through

9) and then everyone chimes in on the lines marked "ALL." Practice

once and then read and perform with gusto. For added impact, add

gesturing (falling), whispering, and leaf cut outs or real fall

leaves!