It’s the first Friday of the month, so it’s time for another Inkling challenge. This month, Heidi provided the following prompt:

“Close your eyes and type a poem. Keep going until you’re done. There will always be little typos to deal with afterwards, but something about not watching what’s coming out (and immediately proofing/editing/revising/critiquing/arranging it) is extremely freeing.”

If you read my poem last week, you’ll know that recently I’ve spent a lot of time outdoors enjoying the changing of the season. My noticings came out in this poem.

The leaves are catching light
like a cupped palm, desperate,
to capture thirst-quenching water,
they reach for one last sip
of life-sustaining
Light.

Their brilliance turns the world golden;
embracing us in their glow,
and we ignore the shadows
hinting at the cold, dark
days to come.

Draft © Catherine Flynn, 2026

Please be sure to visit my fellow Inklings to read their responses to Heidi’s challenge:

Heidi @ My Juicy Little Universe
Linda @ Another Word Edgewise
Margaret @ Reflections on the Teche
Mary Lee @ Another Year of Reading
Molly @ Nix the Comfort Zone

Then head over to Joyce Uglow’s blog for the Poetry Friday Roundup.