Machine Cooties

The Year’s True Turning

The Forgotten — Retaught
Dedicated to David J. Beard

Spring begins in February — though Snow still guards the ground — The Crocus lifts a violet hand — and Roots begin to sound — March — stirs the branches — the Robin dares to call — The Equinox — Mid Spring revealed — Day and Night stand tall — April — scatters Blossoms — a Lantern in the rain — The Orchard exhales its fragrance — and fields grow green again — May — begins the Summer — the Hedgerows start to sing — The Clover hums with Industry — the Bees are on the wing — June — crowns the Solstice — Midsummer’s blazing Throne — The Longest Light — a sovereign — who claims the Sky his own — July — is loud with Thunder — the Meadows thick with Grain — The River swells with Laughter — and will not be restrained — August — wakes the Autumn — though Heat still rules the Land — The Apple dreams of Scarlet — the Harvest sweet — in Jams — September — holds the Middle — not Beginning — of the Fall — The Maples flame their Testament — the Geese inscribe their Call — October — burns with Bonfire — Golden Glory in the Air — The Cricket keeps his metronome — the Frost creeps everywhere — November — starts the Winter — the Garden folds away — The Hearth becomes a Province — where Silence learns to stay — December — lays a silver cloth — and bids the World be still — At Solstice — Midwinter is deep — yet Candles guard the chill — January — chants a frozen Psalm — the Night is long and sore — But February stirs again — and Spring prepares once more —

59% Terri Guillemets

41% Microsoft Copilot

August 18, 2025

A poem about the eight seasons of the year, written in the style of Emily Dickinson. In the Northern Hemisphere, this is the division of the solar seasons by calendar dates: Awakening Spring, which is the first, cooler half of spring, begins around February 3–4. Blossom Spring, the second and warmer half, begins at mid-spring, the vernal equinox, around March 19–20. Growing Summer, the first half of the season, begins around May 4–5. High Summer, the second, hotter half, begins at midsummer, the summer solstice, around June 20–21. Fruit Autumn, the first, warmer half of fall, begins around August 6–7. Leaf-Fall Autumn, the second, cooler half of the season, begins at mid-autumn, the autumnal equinox, around September 22–23. Frost Winter, the first half of winter, begins around November 6–7. Deep Winter, the second half of the season, begins at midwinter, the winter solstice, around December 21–22. The exact date and time of each transition varies per year. This is the most traditional way to mark seasons, used by many peoples in close communion with the natural world, before modern artifices. However, depending on location, weather, and culture, seasons may be defined differently.

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The Year’s True Turning The Eight Seasons explained The Forgotten Retaught David J. Beard
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