Autumn’s leaves and groundhogs | Teen Ink

Autumn’s leaves and groundhogs

October 16, 2009
By astrostar2 DIAMOND, Congers, New York
astrostar2 DIAMOND, Congers, New York
55 articles 0 photos 2 comments

Favorite Quote:
Nothing is impossible, it is either probable or improbable.


Winter is coming near, even the trees know it
Shedding their blushing foliage,
Leaving only their bare, lifeless branches.
Squirrels are gathering acorns and nuts
Scurrying about with bulging furry cheeks.
The larger animals eat as much as they can
Waddling along, chewing anything they find edible.
Watch the big jarlike groundhog slipping past,
Unnoticed in the golden tangle of grass and weeds.
Now he drags his jiggling body past the thistles,
Beady eyes intent on a target ahead.
He stops at my patch of tall sunflowers,
Raising his little brown head to see the whole plant.
Like a philosopher, he ignores the bright yellow bloom
But observes the less attractive, fanned leaves.
Without wobbling he lifts his thick bundled body,
Relinquishing his usual slouch.
He munches almost delicately, without a sound
On the crisp green leaves.


The author's comments:
I was inspired by the annoying, but adorable groundhogs that always came and destroyed my garden in the fall.

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This article has 23 comments.


jaredk112 said...
on Jan. 24 2010 at 4:47 pm
I love this poem! it had fantastic imagery and showed the mood of autumn perfectly.

emjoma said...
on Jan. 24 2010 at 2:40 pm
I love this poem, it just pulls you into the mood of autumn perfectly, regardless of the season. Great job, keep on writing.

superjudge3 said...
on Nov. 9 2009 at 8:15 pm
all i can say is awsome. the use of personification and descriptive language gives an uber clear picture of the scene.

on Nov. 9 2009 at 7:49 pm
This was a really nice poem, it kept me attached and interested. Good work.

cwuuuuuuuu said...
on Nov. 9 2009 at 5:07 pm
wow, this is good !

Sh999 said...
on Nov. 9 2009 at 4:42 pm
not bad i like it. it's very clear to understand. good job!

LtL924 said...
on Nov. 7 2009 at 9:28 pm
This really intrigued me, your choice of diction creates a fascinating sense of imagery. The distinct words allowed pictures of the little creature to be imprinted in my mind and made me smile :)

hahaaha15 said...
on Nov. 7 2009 at 9:26 pm
amazing! its good : )

Talli.94 said...
on Nov. 5 2009 at 8:45 pm
Wow. This is really nice. I could picture a little brown animal munching away! =)

Paxweiner said...
on Nov. 4 2009 at 8:12 pm
Pretty good....pretty, pretty, pret-t-y good

emiva37 said...
on Nov. 4 2009 at 8:10 pm
really good job! i liked the imagery and particularly how the trees are personified. I really enjoyed your choice of adjectives and similes :)

on Nov. 4 2009 at 8:04 pm
IgniteTheAirwaves PLATINUM, New City, New York
41 articles 37 photos 25 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Don't ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody." -J.D. Salinger, Catcher in the Rye

I really like this poem, especially the imagery of the trees 'shedding their blushing foliage.' That's a great image. Maybe you could explain a little more the aspects other than the groundhog and expand the poem. But either way, great job. :D

kdkskdk said...
on Nov. 1 2009 at 5:27 pm
good job

on Oct. 30 2009 at 3:32 pm
This is really good =]

nice jobb

hunniejl said...
on Oct. 29 2009 at 11:13 am
Such interesting analogies and descriptions! What an excellent poem!

NAR1 said...
on Oct. 26 2009 at 8:40 pm
I can really see the groundhog with all the imagery you used. Just one question, how exactly is he like a philosopher?

riss said...
on Oct. 26 2009 at 7:41 pm
this is really good!

MangoCha said...
on Oct. 26 2009 at 7:37 pm
I really like this poem! The imagery is absolutely riveting, and the language is very powerful. I especially like the line "even the trees know it". Great job! :D

on Oct. 26 2009 at 6:07 pm
BEAST!! FIVE STARS!!!

hpenguin1 said...
on Oct. 25 2009 at 8:43 pm
I really enjoyed reading this poem. The figurative language was clear and concise, and the imagery was vivid. I particularly liked the funny descriptions of the animals, and the depiction of the groundhog's inquisitive behavior. Great job!