First Friday Poetry: September 2026

I'm joining Beverly A Baird & Linda Schueler in another year long poetry practice. On the first Friday of each month we, and anyone else who joins, write a poem and share it.

This year, Bev and Linda have organized themes for each month. This months theme is Autumn.

It's been a hard summer here in the south Okanagan valley. We've had mammoth fires to the north and south of us. For the previous month, our air quality has been in the orange or red zones. Day after day, the sun, when we have been able to see it, has appeared red in the sky. In addition, we are experiencing serious water restrictions because of the ongoing drought. The only thing falling from the sky has been ash. 

I have never looked forward to Autumn as much as this year.

Here is my poem: 

arriving none to soon,

autumn is,
at long last,
on its way

heat and wildfire smoke
make way for clear skies
and cool nights

following the drought
of earlier seasons,
local voices 

rejoice in rain
a refrain of,
“isn’t it a lovely day?”
resounds as we go about the town

water restrictions continue,
the harvest is less than stellar,
but the cellar shelves are replenished
with coloured jars

what, we wonder, 

will we do with
the rest of the bounty?