Balancing
The sky is streaked with cinnamon,
there’s coriander in the clouds,
the saffron sun, not yet winter-faded,
glows on
the squirrels gathering walnuts,
from trees with nutmeg-sprinkled leaves.
My arms are still summer-browned,
the basil, a bit spindly, still green and fragrant,
but in my spice-scented kitchen, pumpkin simmers
in soup, apples bake in cake, vanilla floats in the air,
and round, golden challahs cool
on the counter
as the cockeyed world balances,
for a few moments
we’re caught in a honeyed glow,
the last bees of summer,
the waxing moon, waiting for fullness.
For my prompt on dVerse today. Next Sunday night is the start of Rosh Hashanah this year. I’m not religious, but I like the rituals, traditions, and having family get together. And the food! I like the symbolism of dipping apples in honey and eating a round challah for a sweet year. I will probably start my challah baking marathon tomorrow and do other cooking over the next few days. The autumnal equinox (vernal equinox in the southern hemisphere) is on Thursday.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
Wonderfully done! Will be hard to come up with something so delightful… But I shall try 🙂
I’m sure you will! 🙂
And thank you!
The brain is a tad on slo-mo with all the stuff going on but strive I shall!
I can imagine! I hope you get a chance to write to this. 🙂
I shall definitely find a chance – might be tomorrow after my job interview 🙂
Oh! Good luck with that! 💙
It went really well (I think) so 🤞
I hope so. I mean I can’t imagine you not acing an interview. Good luck!
You’d be surprised. However, when I want a job, I rarely don’t get it and such was the case for this one. I start on Tuesday! Woot!
Oh wow! Congratulations! I hope you love it there. And I hope you like the hours, too. 🙂
Thank you. I love that it will be back and forth between the two. I will have time to run before the late ones and do other stuff on the early ones after work. The vibe was so good. Hope it’s real.
I’m not sure I understand. Two jobs? Or two different sets of hours? I hope the good vibe stays.
Sorry… One day I wills start at 6:15, the next at 9:00. They are trying to change the 6:15 to 7, but honestly, I don’t mind either way… It’s a 10 minute drive from my house. Soooo far compared to the last two which were 4 and 5 minutes 😉
A ten minute drive is still not bad at all! 🙂
Not at all. And I jest…
🙂
Delicious, Merril! I love the alliteration of ‘coriander in the clouds’ and the sibilance of ‘saffron sun’ – so colourful – and squash and pumpkin are my favourite soup ingredients!
Thank you so much, Kim. It’s actually a pumpkin-yellow split pea soup, spicy with a hint of sweetness. Sooo good!
Sounds good to me. I have carrot and coriander at the moment – it’s got very chilly here.
Carrot and coriander would be lovely together. We’re definitely heading into soup weather.
Lovely! There is something wholesome about baking. I like how you took us outside and then inside where the warm heart(h) is.
Thank you very much, Lisa. I suppose I was thinking of my day–morning walk then baking. 🙂
You’re welcome.
This is such a scrumptious, scrumptious poem, Merril! Wow! 😍 I especially love; “Pumpkin simmers in soup, apples bake in cake, vanilla floats in the air, and round, golden challahs cool on the counter.” Soo satisfying to read and visualize 💘💘
Thank you so much, Sanaa! 😋❤️😘 If we had that transporter, then you could come for dinner. 😊
Just amazing imagery as always Merril…wow!
Aww–thank you so much, Rene! 💙
💙💙
So delightfully delicious, Merril! Your opening stanza set the stage for a feast of senses! Love it. 💙
Thank you so much, Punam! 💙
My pleasure. 💙
I like the move from the autumn outside to the spicy cooking inside. Great use of the spice words.
Thank you so much, Sarah! 💙
OMG!!!
This is heady and hunger inspiring
much💛love
Thank you so much, Gillena!💙
I love this! It’s such a treat for the senses.
Thank you so much, Liz!
You’re welcome, Merril!
A sensory delight, I tasted every word of this. Wonderful!
Thank you, Christopher!
The full flavor of Autumn in this! Loved it!
Thank you so much, Susan! 🙂
If a poem can be luscious, this one surely is. I saw a challah bread recipe recently with “easy” in the title. Maybe I’ll try this one. I may wait until my grandson can help me, if only for moral support.
Awww–thank you, Marian.
I know I’ve shared my aunt Sima’s challah recipe before, but I’d be pleased to send it to you if you want.
Oh, please do–and thank you! The one I saw was in the NYTimes but no family connection as yours would.
You’re welcome. I sent it to you. 🙂
A little world of your own. This is neat, looking, reading, and content for the prompt. Thank you for hosting.
Thank you, Jim!
Coriander in the clouds…what a wonderful image. Nothing better than the smells of baking. (K)
Thank you so much, Kerfe! 😊
Gorgeous imagery Merril. I felt Autumn in the air ☺️💕
Thank you so much, Christine! ❤️
Your colorful fall poem of spice and food work very well!
Thank you very much, Dwight!
You are welcome!
A truly autumnal spice kitchen
Thank you, Derrick. 🙂
I really want challah now.
My kitchen is going to smell so good in a little while. 😊😋
Where’s my invite? 😋
Uh. . .um. . .it must have gotten lost in the mail. 😏
I really enjoyed the spice imagery of “saffron sun” and “nutmeg-sprinkled leaves.” The last bees of summer are acting strange around here. I got my first bee sting in so long while swimming in the lake the other day, and I keep seeing bees in the water, floundering.
Thank you very much!
That is so strange about the bees. I forget where you are, but I hope it’s not a sign of something weird about to happen.
Delicious! Your kitchen is much more active than mine. I can taste it from here 🙂
Thank you! It will be active–not so much right now. 😊
It’s not quite the season for it 🙂
I started the challahs today! 🙂
You’re keen. When is your next big feast day?
It’s Sunday night. I do the cooking and baking in stages. Not sure who’s coming yet.🙂
Be prepared 🙂
Hahaha. Yes. And poor Ricky will not be happy because my niece is bringing their dog. Last time, he hid upstairs till they left.
Helena, the devourer? I think he’s very sensible!
No, not Helena. She’s my daughter’s dog. This one is a little one, not much bigger than him. 🙂
Oh. The little ones don’t know they’re little though. I still think Ricky is sensible 🙂
Ricky is sensible, and he likes routines!
I know people like that (husband for one).
🙂
What a smorgasbord for the senses, Merril. I would love to drink tea in your kitchen.
Thank you, Colleen!
It would be fun to have you here. 😊
I would love every minute, Merril!
❤️
And now you’ve made me hungry 😅
Hahaha. Sorry? 🤣
Delighted this has just landed, warm and fragrant, from a steamy dreamy kithen – yours! Loving that your dVerse is called ‘balancing’ at this very pivotal time of year . What a feast for the senses; thank you especially for first seven stanzas x
Thank you so much for your kind words!
Yes, I chose the title just for that reason. 😊
🙂
Wonderful Merril, delicious dreams of the aroma of fresh baking!
Thank you very much, Rob!
Beautiful! L’shana tova! 💖
So many beautiful examples of spicing up the muse. I can feel the uncertainty, the balancing act of transition, but mostly the warmth of your kitchen. I’ve never had a challah. Sounds scrumptious.
Thank you so much for your lovely, thoughtful comment, Mish!
Challah is an egg bread. The texture is more like a sandwich bread than a baguette, if that helps. 😋
This is gorgeous!!! I can almost smell the spice, see the sky, your still-browned summery arms … ah yes, the good life, family and tradition with lots of yummy food added for good measure.
Aww–thank you so much for your lovely comment, Helen! 😊
What a perfectly balanced poem. One that made me want to visit this kitchen and soak it up.
Thank you very much! 😊
I just loved this poem!!! Wonderful! 🙂
Thank you so much, Linda! 😊
Goodness, your poem made me hungry 😉
😋😋
I’m making myself hungry with food preparation for tomorrow. 🙂
I am not religious either, but love our traditions. For this holiday, the one tradition we do not follow is Grandma’s honey cake. Love honey, but not the cake!
I so agree! 😊
Ha!