swarm in november?
the birds flew a week ago
before the record cold.
the ladybugs have disappeared
(except for the few who are still hanging around on my kitchen ceiling…)
the bees are safe
making honey in their hives,
even the stinkbugs have gone into hiding.
here at the cottage
there are no swarms of bicycles, umbrellas, cars, or children.
there are swarms of leaves,
but I took that photo last week…
there’s a swarm of paint cans in the basement
(but that does not inspire.)
i was just about to pass on this challenge.
after all, i’m plenty busy cooking and cleaning
this week before thanksgiving.
and then, standing by the kitchen sink,
i look out the window.
this is my view all winter long.
i’ve taken pictures of it before.
it’s spare;
it’s subtle;
a swarm of sycamore achenes
hanging in the november sky.
and i’m grateful for the sameness of the seasons — the cycles of nature that come round each year.
the circle of life 
Ah! That is beautiful!!
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Thank you! — I was especially pleased because I was 1 millimeter away from giving up on this one…
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I just learned a word from your post: achene. I like the other photos, but the last photo is especially lovely.
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Thank you. The common name for them around here is monkey balls; when I heard that right away I knew I had to find the correct terminology. :-) Such a lovely word isn’t it?
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These are great! I love the stark beauty of the first picture but I think I like the second one best. The frost of the glass just gives it that extra something. :)
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Well, I didn’t want to use that one because it was taken last year on a frosty morning. The other ones were taken today; I’m trying to use photos taken that day for the challenge. But I did like that one so much, that i put it in anyway. Thank you.
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You’re welcome. And well done on keeping to the challenge – I always try to but sometimes it just doesn’t work!
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Beautiful photos!
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Beautiful photos, I thought the same, where can I find a swarm? Too cold for animals or humans outside, but I had luck and found few geese around.
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Yes — your geese were lovely! Last year I actually tried to take a photo of a bird flock — probably blackbirds — that had landed in our side yard and were rising and swarming and resettling. It was mostly amazing because of the sound of their wings; but the photos didn’t turn out very well (or I would have used it!)
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Loved the poem very much and I like the pictures, especially the last circle, it looks ethereal!
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Thank you so much! We spent a long time redoing those old windows and my husband hates it that they frost up like that. But i agree with you — i love them in the winter.
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