A Prayer for the Autumnal Equinox

some words to sit with on these first few days of fall

“The verdict is in. I am an autumn.” - Gilmore Girls

Is it cheesy to quote Gilmore Girls on my poetry Substack? Maybe. But it doesn’t make the saying any less true. Growing up on a Caribbean island, I always assumed I was a summer girl. But, in recent years, my moody and nostalgic self has felt most at home among the turning leaves, a chilly breeze, and the coziness of fall. The way I see it, autumn is earth’s last attempt at grasping for beauty and life before it’s plunged into winter. As a poet, how could I not love all that this season represents?

So, here’s a prayer for the autumnal equinox. And, happy first day of fall!

From Pinterest

A Prayer for the Autumnal Equinox 
this poem is now published in Heart of Flesh Literary Journal

Give yourself permission to sit
in the coming darkness,
to let the night take over for a time.
Surely, light is never far
behind. But now, just for a while
the sun will let the last bits
of its burning brightness drip
from its rays, days shortened
by the moon’s silver reign.

Sit there. Among rusting leaves
with the crunch of their veins underfoot.
Let their color pour out like blood
that seeps from a broken heart.
Let the crisp wind comfort you.
Let it say, “you are not the only one
that grows sometimes cold.
Stop resisting the rest your soul needs
to be restored to warmth.”

Embrace the reds, oranges, yellows to come.
Mourn as those who have hope,
like the tree losing its leaves weeps
for that which shall return to him.
Gather the foliage from the ground,
sew yourself a garment with these last bursts of beauty,
and give yourself permission to sit—
to let all decompose, be blown away,
to usher in long awaited change.

   - r.e.g. 

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Some literary news…

• The Clayjar Team
  's fall journal, Toil, went live today. I’m honored that one of my poems, “Look,” was chosen for publication. I’ve been reading my way through this issue and there’s just so much to savor. I would encourage you all to read it here. I’ll be sharing some of my favorite pieces via Notes in the coming days.

Toil graphic taken from the Clayjar Review Instagram page

• I started my internship with

  Solum Literary Press
  this past week which I’m super excited about. I admire how they strive to provide faith-based creatives with solid community and I cannot wait to continue to interact with like-minded artists. And, of course, get to read some wonderful poetry submissions for their upcoming issue, Doubt. If you’re interested in submitting, click here.

• The fall poetry cohort I’m a part of (led by

  Kimberly Phinney
  and
  Heather Lobe Johnson
  ) began this past week, too. I’m still emotionally recovering from out first meeting (in the best way possible). We were reminded of some important truths about our God-given voices as poets. If you didn’t join the cohort, but would still like to attend a class, you can purchase “drop-ins” here.

• And I can’t forget about my beloved

  Samantha Cabrera, Publisher
  . There are too many wonderful things happening over at Calla Press Publishing right now, so I’ll focus on two for now:
  Melody Trowell
  's INCREDIBLE Christian fairytale, The Girl Whose Frown Shook the Ground, is available for preorders. So is Gina Gallagher’s children’s picture book, Reading with Remmy. You can preorder either one by clicking here.

That’s all for now!

In Light of Eternity,

Rosa.

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