Leaves

 (Photo by Aashish Vaidya)

 

Leaves

Gleeful with vibrant chroma, look at the gall of the leaves
Bereft of the branches, on the ground, a shawl of the leaves.

Fluttering in the cold autumn breeze, hanging precariously
Are these conversations or the last brawl of the leaves?

Leaf senescence and the appreciation of imperfect beauty:
the wabi-sabi viewpoint enacted – the real windfall of the leaves.

With water from the ground, gases from the air, sun kissed, we
nourished you, O tree, now at your base, we, a haul of the leaves.

The doctrine of existence produces a ‘Mirage’ of permanence.
Neither dread nor wonder last forever at the fall of the leaves.

Etymology

Day 30 NaPoWriMo 2020

(Photo by Aashish Vaidya)

 

Etymology

 

There is the god connection:
Adios, Adieu, Addio, Adeus, Adjo
Khuda Hafez, Sbohem, Goodbye, Sat Sri Akal –
To god, with god, go with god, be god with you,
Truth is the Great Timeless One

There is usually just hellos, and no goodbyes:
Aloha, Namaste, Ciao, Shalom, Salaam

All just to say, this is merely
an interlude,
A pause
Till we meet again –
Auf wiedersehen, Do svidaniya, arrivederci
Au revoir, Do Wizdenia or
as my mom
Taught me
Aavjo – Come again!

 

Notes:  Day 30 of NaPoWriMo 2020. The prompt:

“And last, but not least, our final (optional) prompt! In some past years, I’ve challenged you to write a poem of farewell for our thirtieth day, but this year, I’d like to challenge you to write a poem about something that returns. For, just as the swallows come back to Capistrano each year, NaPoWriMo and GloPoWriMo will ride again!”

I dwell into the etymology of expressions for goodbyes in several languages to end the 2020 NaPoWriMo adventure.  In many languages, the etymology usually, literally, means till we meet again.

Some final thoughts about National Poetry Writing Month.  I have been off and on following Marueen Thorsen’s NaPoWriMo site since 2013.  And it is such a pleasure and a great challenge to write something, even a small poem, everyday.  And I appreciate all she does to provide amazing resources and prompts that help you along the adventure.  I just wish I had more time, not only to read so much amazing work that many do during this month.  But to also deep dive and explore many of the resources Maureen puts together. A big thanks to her, as this has to be such a great labor of love. Either way, till we meet again, be well, stay safe and of course Aavjo.