apple tree shadow
This time of year, I watch for the old apple trees along the road. Most are neglected, and the fruit remains unpicked, even for cider. When the apples fall, they lie beneath the tree in a circle of red or yellow, mimicking the shadow of the tree at noon.
~
~
apple shadow
~
days follow days
and the apples
fall to the ditch,
claim the gravel
edge the asphalt
~
ripe shadow space
at the base of
the leaning tree
~
passing cars play
polo and wasps
worry in the
rotting remains
~
~
Copyright Jane Tims 2012
nichepoetryandprose 
Wonderful post, Jane. All of it. We have a lot of unpicked apples around here too. I often wonder why. The groundhogs (woodchucks) like to eat them when they’ve started to ferment.
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Robin
September 29, 2012 at 12:35 pm
Hi. Its good to know someone is the beneficiary of those neglected apples!!! Jane
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jane tims
September 29, 2012 at 8:36 pm
Wonderful Jane and a stunning illustration.
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dfb
September 26, 2012 at 9:14 am
Hi. Thanks. Glad you like the drawing…. Jane
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jane tims
September 27, 2012 at 11:17 pm
Lovely elegy to autumn harvests!
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dianajhale
September 25, 2012 at 5:55 am
Hi Diana. Thanks! Jane
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jane tims
September 27, 2012 at 11:13 pm
Elegant! I love the image invoked by, “ripe shadow space…” Always a pleasure stopping by your blog!
Hope you are well!
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sunontiepost
September 24, 2012 at 9:23 pm
Hi. I’m glad you like the image. Thanks for visiting. Lots of things to look forward too now that fall is here and the days are cooler. Jane
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jane tims
September 27, 2012 at 11:13 pm
Hi Jane,,,,Philip loves his apple trees,,,this year our apples fell very very early and they rotted on the ground soon after they fell. We can’t seem to get any good apples from the 2 trees we had,,,I am not crazy about them because they make a big mess on my carpet of grass.! However,,,I still make a lot of things this time of year with a variety of apples but those apples are always picked by us in the valley. Love the smell.!!!!
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patsi
September 24, 2012 at 1:09 pm
Hi Patsi. Our old apple tree has been treated for fly, but it needs a good pruning. When it produces, the apples are huge (variety Wolf River). Apples are good to have in fall and the ones from the Valley are always good. Jane
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jane tims
September 27, 2012 at 11:11 pm
What a great image of the windfall apples as shadow. Thanks for that new idea. I enjoyed your poem and drawing and photo and writing, as always. Your posts are an anticipated delight.
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Carol Steel
September 24, 2012 at 10:33 am
Hi Carol. Thanks for your comments! I’m glad you like the shadow image. Jane
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jane tims
September 27, 2012 at 11:09 pm
Dear Jane, I see these old apple trees here as well and enjoyed your post. I’ve also been wondering if the drought here this summer will result in a less colorful fall? Ellen
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Ellen Grace Olinger
September 24, 2012 at 8:52 am
Hi. We are just back from a trip through Quebec and the leaves are just turning…. I think they are going to be just as good as ever! Jane
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jane tims
September 27, 2012 at 11:07 pm
thanks for your thoughtful and unsentimental imagery of the apple trees with their fallen fruit, Jane…. I too have been noticing so many apple trees around here, with their unpicked, ripe apples waiting in vain to be plucked and enjoyed. Somehow it saddens me that people who have apple trees in their yards do not bother to go out and take what is so freely and graciously offered…. to me it speaks of our general consciousness of waste and skewed values. but thanks for your post, nice drawing too! SB
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singingbones
September 24, 2012 at 7:59 am
Hi. We have tried to rescue our old apple tree for a couple of years. Eventually I will have apples from it again. I had one apple this year on a little tree I found at the lake. Jane
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jane tims
September 27, 2012 at 11:06 pm