Welcome to Poetry Friday — a celebration of poetry and community!
This year’s National Writing Project WRITE OUT theme is AWAKEN THE SENSES. I took a “wonder walk” into the forest beyond our property and soaked in the last days of autumn.
Tahoe Tanka
an autumn wind sings,
forest flings needles to duff–
its trestled path cloaked,
awaits winter messiah
proclaims: prepare ye the way
Photo and Poem ©Patricia J. Franz
Patricia Franz writes picture books and poetry. She believes children, dogs, and sourdough have a lot to teach us about life, joy, and wonder. She has raised two boys, four dogs, and holds a master’s degree in Theology with a focus on children’s spirituality. Patricia, her husband, her Bernese Mountain dog, Bonny, and her sourdough starter split their time between the Arizona desert and the Sierra Nevada mountains. 
ooooh, I like that “prepare ye the way.” There’s anticipation there. Thanks so much for hosting. I love the photo from the Tahoe woods to accompany your tanka.
Thanks, Linda. Growing up, we sang a church hymn with those words at Advent. I wanted to channel the idea of winter as messiah.
I love when one season traditions to another. You captured fall preparing for winter in your amazing photo and words.
Mmm…traditions to another…What a nice way to put it, Janice. Thank you!
Beautiful poem and photo! Walking in nature can be such a spiritual experience which you captured so well. Thanks for hosting this week!
Agree! My forest cathedral! Thank you, Jama.
What an inviting poem and image to escape into Patricia, thanks for the breath and for hosting the Round Up!
Yes! A cool autumn breath. Thanks, Michelle
Patricia, I love your word choice: flings, duff, trestled, cloaked. Perfect. Your photograph with the pumpkin just peeking in from the side and the trail leading us into the distance is gorgeous! Thank you for sharing this peaceful scene and for hosting this week.
Oh gosh…I had to go look for that pumpkin. I’m afraid it is not what you think…It’s the end of a log that runs out of the photo. But how fun would that have been to find a pumpkin in my forest!
Too funny! I wasn’t certain, but it looked so much like a pumpkin that I convinced myself it must be! : )
Writing outside! Awakening the senses! Love it 🙂 Thanks so much, Patricia, for sharing your autumnal tanka and for hosting us today.
Writing outside might be my favorite spot. Thanks, Tabatha.
Oh, Patricia, Yes, here’s to writing outside. “The last days of autumn” wow! You are in a place itching for snowfall! I love the allusions and images in your delightful tanka. So beautiful and autumn like. I love flings and sings in your poem. Thank you for hosting!
We’ve had a couple of dustings, but nothing sticking yet. But the trees are whispering, telling us they are ready!
We’ve had falling leaves and hail, but no snow – yet! And I like it that way. 😉 Thanks for hosting, Patricia!
lol– I’m an autumn girl, but I do love snow!
Thanks for hosting us with that glorious mouthful of “Tahoe Tanka,” Patricia!
Always! Love this PF community!
Patricia, would you be able to add my link to the Linky thing? I dont have access to a good computar at the moment. The post is about some poetic connections. https://chickenspaghetti.com/2025/10/22/poetic-connections/
Done! (And the irony is not lost on me… not having access to a good computer and a post about poetic connections! Love it!)
Ha! You’re so right about the irony. Thank you SO much, Patricia, for adding me in. I love your tanka; the fall here just popped last week, though I missed some of it because of our trip. I’m going to get back out there today. Thank you for the inspiration.
Thanks for hosting, Patricia, and for taking us on a walk in that beautiful place, and your poetic invitation from it. Autumn often feels as if we’re holding our breath as it proclaims, as you wrote, “prepare ye the way.”
It’s a joy to be walking with so many of our PF poets in their autumns!
Patricia, thank you for hosting this week’s Poetry Friday. Your photo is beautifully rendered. It sweeps across the forest inviting us to enter. Your tanka prepares the way for for the winter messiah-such a sacred event.
Despite our western landscape (and far fewer maples than other areas of the country) — a forest floor cloaked in pine needles is, for me, a sure sign of winter on its way. Thank you, Carol.
Sings, flings, duff, trestled…Beautiful word choice and photo, Patricia! I enjoyed reading your revision. Seems like the Nevermores inspired both of our posts this week.
Yes — I wrote this as a warmup for our “fifth season” prompt –but felt it qualified more as a simple autumn/ winter musing. But I kept that last line.
Thanks so much for hosting this week and for sharing your beautiful tanka. I’d been hoping to participate in the NWP’s Write Out, but have yet to do so. Thanks for a nudge to wander and wonder!
My participation is mostly in the writing — I have to let go of thinking I can dial in or online share, time-wise. But writing outdoors –in any season– is inspirational! Thanks, Molly.
You “awaken my senses” with your lovely path tanka. Love “trestled path cloaked” as we prepare the way to winter. I can smell the pines! Thanks for hosting.
I’m trying to notice the pine scent in autumn as opposed to spring. Definitely different –and a true challenge for me to write about aromas (without using the associated words). Thanks, Margaret.
Thanks for hosting us this week! Your word choice makes me swoon: duff, trestled, and imagining winter as a messiah!
Winter messiah — the best kind!
Wow, that’s some serious pine needle coverage! I love that “duff” in the poem, too. Thanks, Patricia. xo
Yes, the raked piles rival maples, though not nearly as fun to jump in! Thank you, Irene.
Thanks for hosting, Patricia! I love your poem. Each line is so filled with the senses of Autumn. The needles lay such a beautiful carpet this time of year. I can smell the pine and feel winter in the air. Beautifu!
Here in the forest, what we lack in color, we make up for in aroma. Pine. Wood fires. Waiting on winter! Thanks, Cathy.
Lovely Tanka—pine needles trestling, the spiritual path into changing times. This feels like walking softly in solitude.
Oh but I’m never alone here — the fir and pine, the churly squirrels, fallen logs, and my four-footed fur-friend. 🙂
🙂
Patricia,
Thank you for hosting. We commonly both receive inspiration from nature, and I love that. Your words “forest flings” are apt right now in the Northwoods.
And your log-inspired haiku is a perfect praise for our autumn walks! Thank you, Carol.
I love that “cloaked,” Patricia. And thank you for hosting!
We had gusty winds yesterday and that cloak was blown wildly away!
Patricia, I love the idea of the wonder walk. And the photo with the tanka just speaks of autumn. Thanks you for hosting today.
Tomorrow’s will be for haiku, Jone-inspired ☺️
Patricia, thank you for hosting Poetry Friday and your autumn tanka. Autumn is my favorite season-the colorful leaves and pumpkins, the brisk days and nights, the blue sky with higher clouds, the change of the wind, and the anticipation of snow. Oh, and the animals gathering nuts and seeds. I love your personification of autumn wind sings, how it rhymes with forest flings, the alliteration of those fs, and your words choices: flings, cloaked, trestled, and proclaims. What a beautiful photo! My husband and I are going to climb a short mountain tomorrow and I am bringing my notebook because you have inspired me. I forgot how much I love to write outside. When I walk or hike, I usually brainstorm in my head and then write the words down when I come in. Thank you! Give your beautiful puppy a hug from me.
Gail! I hope you enjoy a great outdoor write! Thank you for the kind words.
Oh, so lovely, Patricia! I love the image of autumn preparing the way. Thanks for hosting!
Me too, Karen. Thank you!