Here at The Gloria Sirens, we’re thrilled to share that our own Siren Susan Lilley has been chosen as the first Poet Laureate of Orlando, Florida. Here’s one of her gorgeous poems; expect an interview with her on these pages soon!
“FALL” WAS FIRST PERFORMED AT A CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON 10/23/17, WHERE SUSAN LILLEY WAS NAMED THE CITY OF ORLANDO’S INAUGURAL POET LAUREATE.
for Orlando
As I left the post office the other day,
a friendly tourist, family in the car,
pulled over for advice
on Asian restaurants within a one-mile radius.
I fanned myself with a useless L.L. Bean
winter catalogue as we discussed his options.
He said, You must miss the seasons.
The seasons? We have seasons.
Oh, yes, he smiled. Summer and summer.
O visitor from somewhere cold and gray.
Do you not see the decorative gourds of autumn
around you? Do you not smell the pumpkin spice
in the coffee, the muffins, the air freshener?
We are passing through the aromatic
doorway of fall as we speak. And we check the
tropical disturbance reports only once a day.
Because as we embrace autumn with all our
sweaty hearts, we blow a bitter kiss
to hurricane season, also known as season
of the blue tarp, the ear-blasting generator,
the season of Who Has Power, hauling tree limbs,
and Jesus, take the wheel.
Read the rest of the poem by clicking here.
Categories: Susan's Voice
The Gloria Sirens 