Calendar page turns to November
Autumn season filling with its peace
Colorful leaves have fallen away
Winds of winter begin to release
Temperatures cascading downward
Barren trees swaying and shivering
Farm fields ready for hibernation
Autumn’s harmony now quivering
Many say, beware of November
Her fading hues begin looking north
Arctic’s snowy cold now encroaching
Winter’s early surprise coming forth
Ranchers scurry to shelter cattle
Yards cheerfully display fall’s decor
Boldly hanging on to each strawman
Nothing postpones winter’s early chore
Harsh winds of November come and go
Sometimes with cold feints, or so much more
Chilling rain turns to ice, never nice
Winter’s snow, knocking at autumn’s door
During my first year of teaching at Plevna Schools, found in southeastern Montana, I was greeted with a winter that I will always remember. The first snowflakes and cold began arriving in early November, and they didn’t stop until late February. Finally the chinook winds began to warm up the countryside, and ranchers and farmers were rejoicing. After all, the winter one year earlier had included the famous blizzard of 1978.
Big Sky Buckeye 
Snow I don’t mind. It is the freezing drizzle or wintry mix I don’t like. November brings one good thing- time change extra hour of sleep 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ditto on the time change, and I’m ready for sunrise now an hour earlier. I am no fan of ice on the roads.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’ve reminded me of what people around here call the Christmas Miracle of 2004. Snow came to coastal Texas — a lot of snow. Enough for snowmen, sledding, and snow angels. It was beautiful. I wrote about it here. Check out the last photo, showing the surf snowman on the beach in Galveston!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks for reading and sharing about the miracle of a White Christmas in Galveston. Precious narrative and photos. Now I can say that I’ve seen Frosty on a beach.
LikeLiked by 1 person
a realistic look at November, but I think you should write poems about the summer, to help us forget the cold!
LikeLiked by 2 people
You know that the “Montana” roots in me still appreciate winter. We wear winter’s cold and snow like a badge of honor. Ohioans have no idea what “real” winter is. I agree with you about sharing a bit of summer melting the snow and chasing away the cold.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have no desire to learn about “Montana cold”!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That infamous blizzard of 1978–I remember as a kid in Chicago. Yikes! 🥶😱
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was busy with my senior year at college in Bozeman, MT, and the infamous blizzard spared us for the most part. The eastern half of the state wasn’t so lucky.
LikeLike
Brrr!!! Cold! =)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Definitely . . . when one lives in California. Have you ever witnessed a snowstorm?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Never!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The late 70’s were times a big snows even here.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Growing up in Montana, the winters always seemed long and cold with more than enough snow. Now living in Ohio, most shudder at the thought of enduring a snowstorm.
LikeLiked by 1 person