A haibun
The Jewish New Year always comes in the autumn. I’ve always taken this for granted; but, this year, this month, this week, today, suddenly, it strikes me that this is counterintuitive. Spring is the season of growth and rebirth, is it not, whereas autumn leads to deadness?
Lightning hits; air crackles; a thought electrifies.
This tradition surely harkens back to the ancient Israelites’ agrarian form of society. Only in autumn would the ancients have known whether their harvests had been successful. That’s when they would celebrate – with true gratitude.
In other words, the Jewish New Year is inherently backwards-looking – it’s a time to appreciate our blessings.
crisp September sighs
vivified by gratitude
meaning in context
d’Verse Haibun Monday: September song
At d’Verse, poets were encouraged to write haibun on the theme of ‘September’.
#TankaTuesday
This haibun was written for this week’s Colleen Chesebro’s ‘Tanka Tuesday’ prompt, which was provided by Sangeetha of ‘Mindfills’. We are encouraged to write syllabic poems on the theme of: ‘The Nature of Lightning’.
Let’s write poetry together!
When it comes to partnership, some humans can make their lives alone – it’s possible. But creatively, it’s more like painting: you can’t just use the same colours in every painting. It’s just not an option. You can’t take the same photograph every time and live with art forms with no differences.
–Ben Harper (b. 1969)
Would you like to create poetry with me and have a completed poem of yours featured here at the Skeptic’s Kaddish? I am very excited to have launched the ‘Poetry Partners’ initiative and am looking forward to meeting and creating with you… Check it out!
The Skeptic's Kaddish ๐ฎ๐ฑ 
David, your explanation makes sense. I think autumn is the second best season, right behind spring. It has always felt like a new beginning because of Rosh Hashanah. You need to shed the old in order to accept the new. I hope you had a lovely New Year.
โค ๐ Lauren ๐ โค ~ you too!
I like how you show your thought process and the conclusion you draw. I think just about anytime one is alive one may find a reason to celebrate. Happy Holiday of Gratitude to You and Yours.
๐ Lisa ๐ ~ thank you!
Youโre welcome! โค
lovely poem in the “deadness” David๐ฅน๐๐
๐๐๐ป Cindy ๐๐ป๐
๐โค๏ธ๐
Happy holiday!!
๐ โค Leenda โค ๐
I just learned that India is also having their harvest festival… 9 nights (10 days), different gods, themes, foods, and colors for each day. And some variance between N and S India.
โค Leenda โค ~ yeah – I've been reading about that too ๐
~David
This is a perfect time for new year. Nice haibun! I admire your technical poetic ability.
๐๐๐ป Lia ๐๐ป๐
It all makes sense when you look at it from that perspective. Thanks for giving me something to consider…
๐ฏ๐ Muri ๐ฏ๐
David, this is an excellent observation!! I love how lightning struck a chord. ๐๐
๐ค๐๐ป Colleen ๐๐ป๐ค
Nice mix of monoku and haiku. I especially like the sound of “crisp September sighs”
๐๐๐ป Mish ๐๐ป๐
I like the positive outlook on Autumn. I usually look at it as a preface to the dead of Winter.
๐๐๐ป Brandon ๐๐ป๐
Excellent.
๐๐๐ป Molly ๐๐ป๐
looking back in gratitude
whatever the mess –
small world still is
๐๐๐ป Barbara ๐๐ป๐