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The End of October

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The End of October

Field Notes XXVI: Creative words. An attempt at poetry in writing and film.

Erik Hogan
Oct 29, 2023
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The End of October

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Welcome to Field Notes!

So I guess I’m a poet now, because I have written a poem. This week has caught me in between adventures and dealing with hardships behind the scenes, so it will be short. However, this does not mean it has been easy. I’ve tried writing a few poems in the past and they always exhaust my mind like no other activity.

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I’ll never claim to be a good poet. In fact, I’m terrified of sharing any of them. But, I have written in the past about the importance of not being afraid to share bad art and now is the time to hold myself accountable to that.

I present to you here 2 different poems, in vastly different formats, yet covering the same thing. Take from them what you can. Love them or hate them, I’d like to hear back either way!

The End of October

Night persists as October ends
   and hesitant Eos waits, shivering
      while the rain
          falls.

The arboreal grip on foliage expends
   and vibrancy too quickly fades
      while a lone leaf
          falls.

Clouds swirl like restless animals that contend
   and struggle against loss
      while overcast light
          falls.

Her vitality muted, Eos ascends
   and turns wet cheeks to the sky
      while moments race by and time
          falls.

But rain abates and clouds divide.  
   Hope transcends
   and Eos runs to catch the day
      while across the fields,
      light triumphant, 
      her brilliant rays
          fall.

The End of October

Loading video

*The music is No 10 A New Beginning by Esther Abrami from the YouTube audio library.

Thanks for reading! I recently returned from another backpacking trip in North Carolina. It was 3 days filled with highs and lows, both literal and metaphorical. I filmed the trip and got some quite surprising photos that I cannot wait to share.

Until then, you can check out my photo galleries here-

Photography

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And for those of you already subscribed, I’d love to hear back from you about what you like best about Field Notes. I’ve written a number of adventure stories, some deeper dives into specific photos, written a little about my gear, some creative writing essays, and now a poem.

Unfortunately Field Notes cannot be all adventure stories. The trips are expensive in both money and time and I don’t have good enough cold weather gear for mid winter camping.

So what next? You’ve honored my work by subscribing, so I’d like your input on where were heading and topics you’d like to see covered.

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The End of October

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Jonathan Giles
Writes Heart, Hiking, Here & Now
Nov 3Liked by Erik Hogan

Hi Erik, I love your poem and your video. I am sorry not to respond sooner. I tried writing from my phone but kept losing my comments due to one reason or another. I am on my lap top now and, shock of shocks, writing is much easier. Your poem, in particular, has been a lot of fun to read - in addition to thinking about Eos and its brilliant rays - especially in light of your focus in your photography on mountain sunrises and sunsets. I liked the poem as much, though, for its mechanics. You belie your knowledge of poetry as your construct shows: rhyming end words in each stanza's first line, repeating first words in each stanza's second and third lines, and the single word fourth line - all in a reverse stair step structure. Very cool! The sixth stanza, it's fun to read, breaks the 4-line construct and provides a degree of emphasis through the long enjambment-like combination of the first line and second line, while still getting the "and," "while," and "falls" into the sixth stanza now with its 7-lines, and that's fun to spot too. All in all, a good poem to read, contemplate the meaning - hope transcends in the brilliant rays of Eos- while enjoying the mechanics employed. Bravo!

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1 reply by Erik Hogan
Simon
Writes Getting On A Bit
Oct 31Liked by Erik Hogan

Hi Erik. I'm something of a philistine when it comes to poetry but well done for posting it. I fully identify with the terror you feel in sharing it.

And the video is absolutely fantastic. I could watch that for hours. Thanks

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