Autumn’s Burning Stars
Scott J. Couturier
Autumn’s burning stars summon my spirit home:
a night when you wish you could vanish
into a wild uplifting wind, cackle & roam
amid rustling of dark-crowned treetops,
reveling with Nature in her numinous unrest,
all illuminated by no moon, but stars that sear
& glisten with ecstasy’s excitation, & no moon,
no moon at all to preside as void’s gatekeeper.
That argent goddess absent, regnant over dayside:
mischief roused from the very heart of things,
witches & ghosts at work in wondering minds
as galaxy’s sprawl stretches endless onward,
agleam before awestruck upturned eyes, wheel’s edge
spangled by starfire, lighting souls with
glad blue flame. October’s midnight, bright with
lanterns of astrology, Orion arisen to herald
Winter’s oncoming reign, Mars and Jupiter
lustrous in godhead, steadfast & ascendant.
Wonderment of such an evening! Would I could
as my essence wished, & evanesce into bliss
of a shadow, marvel of a star-kissed glade.
“Autum’s Burning Stars”, © Scott J. Couturier. First published here in Cosmic Roots & Eldritch Shores on October 21, 2024
Scott J. Couturier is a Rhysling-nominated poet and prose writer of the weird, liminal, and darkly fantastic. His work has appeared in numerous venues, including The Audient Void, Spectral Realms, Tales from the Magician’s Skull, Space and Time Magazine, Cosmic Horror Monthly, and Weirdbook. His collection of weird fiction The Box is available from Hybrid Sequence Media, while his collection of speculative poetry I Awaken In October: Poems of Folk Horror and Halloween is available from Jackanapes Press.
He works as a copy and content editor for Mission Point Press, also co-editing the anthology series Weird Fiction Quarterly. Currently he lives an obscure reverie in the wilds of northern Michigan with his partner/live-in editor and two cats.
About his poem, Scott says:
This poem was inspired by a rush of bewitching nature veneration that overtook me on an October evening.
Lead pic by Fran Eisemann, using “stock model 33” by Mo Nabbach, UK
By Wyldraven: “Nocturnal Whisperings” and “Mystical Forest” backgrounds by Wyldraven, who can be found roosting here amongst much beautiful artwork.
You can comment on this story and artwork at The Forums, on our Twitter page, and our facebook page. and our blusky page
You can Subscribe to one of our sliding scale subscriptions to receive notifications of future publications, and to help us bring you more stories, artwork, podcasts, and articles.