"Allegory of the Seasons - Fall" by Sebastiaen Vrancx‘A Man for Two Seasons’ by T.M. Moore and a Response by C.B. Anderson The Society September 22, 2019 Culture, Humor, Poetry 11 Comments A Man for Two Seasons by T.M. Moore I’m in a constant state of readiness for fall. For me, the perfect climate goes from winter straight to autumn, sans the stress of spring and allergies, and all the woes that come with summer’s heat and sweat. Unless I’m off the mark, I’m sure that there are those who would agree with me. Okay, I guess there’d have to be adjustments—in our clothes, for instance, and in agriculture (bless the farmers), sports, vacations, and who knows what else. But think about it: you’ll confess I’ve got a point. I much prefer the snows of winter and fall’s radiant colors—yes, when leaves fall, nights are long, and cold wind blows— __to itchy eyes and sneezing every spring, __and all the perspiration summers bring. T.M. Moore’s poetry has appeared in numerous journals, and he has published five volumes of verse through his ministry’s imprint, Waxed Tablet Publications. He is Principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, he and his wife, Susie, reside in Essex Junction, VT. Three out of Four Ain’t Bad by C.B. Anderson And just where in the universe, Sir, Have you lately imagined you were When the world was created by God? Just as weeds dare to blemish good sod, We all think that it would have been nice Had He first come to us for advice. Why a creature that’s made out of dust Should evince such climatic disgust Is a mystery hard to explain To a fully acclimatized brain. If it weren’t for the summertime heat, There’d be nothing in winter to eat. If you’re highly allergic to pollen, And it makes you feel wheezy and swollen, Then be thankful it isn’t pellagra, And go purchase a vial of Allegra. Though you’d rather not dwell on such topics, Just imagine a life in the tropics. I agree with your thoughts about fall, But I don’t care for winter at all. NOTE TO READERS: If you enjoyed this poem or other content, please consider making a donation to the Society of Classical Poets. The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary. ***Read Our Comments Policy Here*** 11 Responses David Paul Behrens September 22, 2019 I live in southern California, where the weather is nice almost all year long. Occasionally, but not often enough, we are blessed with rain. I was born in Illinois and spent a few years growing up in northern Kentucky, so I am familiar with snow. As a kid, I loved it. Sometimes school would be cancelled when there was a blizzard. I could make fifty cents shoveling snow to clear someone’s driveway. We built snowmen, had snowball fights and once built an igloo in the back yard. As an adult, I am not so sure I would have cared for it very much. As a young adult, I spent a few years living in New York City, where my favorite seasons were spring and fall. Reply Joseph S. Salemi September 22, 2019 Kip Anderson is right — if it weren’t for the hot seasons, we’d have nothing to eat. But I do appreciate T.M. Moore’s attitude and preference; the beastly heat of summer can be nigh unbearable. To Mr. Behrens — if you’ve lived here in Noo Yawk, you know what I mean. Our summers are sometimes torturous, and they can linger into October. I’ve written a violently angry poem on the subject, but it can’t be posted here because of the shockingly obscene language. Reply David Paul Behrens September 23, 2019 I definitely know what you mean about the summers in New York, especially since I lived in a six story walk-up with no air conditioning and labored on the streets in the garment district. Reply T.M. September 23, 2019 C. B.: I was merely stating a preference, not presuming to correct the Creator. Reply James A. Tweedie September 23, 2019 T.M., All things in God’s creation serve a purpose, including hurricanes and earthquakes. Some, I definitely prefer over others . . . including the seasons! I do not believe God takes any offense at this. By the way, I enjoyed your poem. And as for “life in the tropics,” I spent 17 years in Hawaii and, although I did not miss shoveling snow, I did miss the cool, crisp, spring and autumn mornings most of all. Reply C.B. Anderson September 23, 2019 T.M., Yes, I know. My response was very much tongue-in-cheek, but metaphysical speculation, in my opinion, is never out-of-bounds. The Master of the Universe expects nothing less of his creations, methinks. Reply Sally Cook September 23, 2019 Dear T, M, — I like a change of seasons, but recognize that some seasons are better in some places than others. So I guess I agree with all of you. For instance, I like New York in Spring (How about you?) And Joe, it is a long, long time from May till September, isn’t it, especially in downtown Manhattan. But Kip, how wise the Creator was to give us winter so we could learn to cope with contrast and change. In any event, certainly there is nothing like a White Christmas. Reply Sally Cook September 23, 2019 T. M. — I like a change of seasons, but recognize that some seasons are better in some places than others. So I guess I agree with all of you. For instance, I like New York in Spring (How about you?) And Joe, it is a long, long time from May till September, isn’t it, especially in downtown Manhattan. But Kip, how wise the Creator was to give us winter so we could learn to cope with contrast and change. In any event, certainly there is nothing like a White Christmas. Reply C.B. Anderson September 23, 2019 Sally, There certainly is something like a white Christmas, and that is a white Christmas. What I dislike about winter mostly has to do with the tiresome necessity of snow shovels and the inability of my car safely to climb the hill atop which my house sits. All in all, however, I think that God has done a pretty good job in arranging things for the creatures that inhabit this planet. Reply T. M. September 24, 2019 No doubt about that. But that does not negate preferences, just as preferences are not an affront to the divine scheme of things. Spring is OK, and summer has its virtues. But fall, ah, what glory to see geese heading south and trees all ablaze against the gray skies, and to feel the growing chill in the air, and all this a portent and foretaste of the bitter beauty of winter, yet to come. I thank God for all the seasons, and for every day, but I especially delight in the gift of fall and winter. I think I’ve written more poems about fall than any other season. Reply C.B. Anderson September 24, 2019 Yes, fall is the preference of many poets, but spring is a close rival, and perhaps even paramount. If I could find something to hate about spring it would be that this is the season when I must wake up from my comfortable winter stupor and go back to work again. I’ve endured NYC summers, and I don’t care to undergo them anytime soon again, no matter how often they open up the fire hydrants to cool off the kids in the streets. God is good and wise, but it seems He has not sufficiently accounted for every foible that persists in the personalities of His self-centered creations. Reply Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
David Paul Behrens September 22, 2019 I live in southern California, where the weather is nice almost all year long. Occasionally, but not often enough, we are blessed with rain. I was born in Illinois and spent a few years growing up in northern Kentucky, so I am familiar with snow. As a kid, I loved it. Sometimes school would be cancelled when there was a blizzard. I could make fifty cents shoveling snow to clear someone’s driveway. We built snowmen, had snowball fights and once built an igloo in the back yard. As an adult, I am not so sure I would have cared for it very much. As a young adult, I spent a few years living in New York City, where my favorite seasons were spring and fall. Reply
Joseph S. Salemi September 22, 2019 Kip Anderson is right — if it weren’t for the hot seasons, we’d have nothing to eat. But I do appreciate T.M. Moore’s attitude and preference; the beastly heat of summer can be nigh unbearable. To Mr. Behrens — if you’ve lived here in Noo Yawk, you know what I mean. Our summers are sometimes torturous, and they can linger into October. I’ve written a violently angry poem on the subject, but it can’t be posted here because of the shockingly obscene language. Reply
David Paul Behrens September 23, 2019 I definitely know what you mean about the summers in New York, especially since I lived in a six story walk-up with no air conditioning and labored on the streets in the garment district. Reply
T.M. September 23, 2019 C. B.: I was merely stating a preference, not presuming to correct the Creator. Reply
James A. Tweedie September 23, 2019 T.M., All things in God’s creation serve a purpose, including hurricanes and earthquakes. Some, I definitely prefer over others . . . including the seasons! I do not believe God takes any offense at this. By the way, I enjoyed your poem. And as for “life in the tropics,” I spent 17 years in Hawaii and, although I did not miss shoveling snow, I did miss the cool, crisp, spring and autumn mornings most of all. Reply
C.B. Anderson September 23, 2019 T.M., Yes, I know. My response was very much tongue-in-cheek, but metaphysical speculation, in my opinion, is never out-of-bounds. The Master of the Universe expects nothing less of his creations, methinks. Reply
Sally Cook September 23, 2019 Dear T, M, — I like a change of seasons, but recognize that some seasons are better in some places than others. So I guess I agree with all of you. For instance, I like New York in Spring (How about you?) And Joe, it is a long, long time from May till September, isn’t it, especially in downtown Manhattan. But Kip, how wise the Creator was to give us winter so we could learn to cope with contrast and change. In any event, certainly there is nothing like a White Christmas. Reply
Sally Cook September 23, 2019 T. M. — I like a change of seasons, but recognize that some seasons are better in some places than others. So I guess I agree with all of you. For instance, I like New York in Spring (How about you?) And Joe, it is a long, long time from May till September, isn’t it, especially in downtown Manhattan. But Kip, how wise the Creator was to give us winter so we could learn to cope with contrast and change. In any event, certainly there is nothing like a White Christmas. Reply
C.B. Anderson September 23, 2019 Sally, There certainly is something like a white Christmas, and that is a white Christmas. What I dislike about winter mostly has to do with the tiresome necessity of snow shovels and the inability of my car safely to climb the hill atop which my house sits. All in all, however, I think that God has done a pretty good job in arranging things for the creatures that inhabit this planet. Reply
T. M. September 24, 2019 No doubt about that. But that does not negate preferences, just as preferences are not an affront to the divine scheme of things. Spring is OK, and summer has its virtues. But fall, ah, what glory to see geese heading south and trees all ablaze against the gray skies, and to feel the growing chill in the air, and all this a portent and foretaste of the bitter beauty of winter, yet to come. I thank God for all the seasons, and for every day, but I especially delight in the gift of fall and winter. I think I’ve written more poems about fall than any other season. Reply
C.B. Anderson September 24, 2019 Yes, fall is the preference of many poets, but spring is a close rival, and perhaps even paramount. If I could find something to hate about spring it would be that this is the season when I must wake up from my comfortable winter stupor and go back to work again. I’ve endured NYC summers, and I don’t care to undergo them anytime soon again, no matter how often they open up the fire hydrants to cool off the kids in the streets. God is good and wise, but it seems He has not sufficiently accounted for every foible that persists in the personalities of His self-centered creations. Reply
