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Readers can click to the next month at the conclusion of each poem. You can also go to each month by clicking on the link to the months here:
Jan/Feb/Mar/Apr/May/Jun/Jul/Aug/Sep/Oct/Nov/Dec/Intro
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November, 2026
A Tanka
and
“Autumn Serenade”
by Judith Vaughn
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photo by Judith Vaughn
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A Tanka
Coltrane and Hartman
sing an autumn serenade
through fields of gold vines
my head bows my heart opens
to radiant morning sun
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Autumn Serenade
Through black barked oaks an autumn serenade
wafts across the vineyards. Coltrane and Hartman
sing in the radiance of golden light filtering
through each vine.
Stars cling to the autumnal sky until sun opens
arms, embraces the silver dust of their descent.
I bow my head, bare my heart to years
of serenades radiant in morning’s skin.
In the empyrean firmament, moon waits for an
entrance into another celebration of coming winter
solstice. On the ground oak trees watch drifting
leaves fall.
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Listen to Judith Vaughn read her poem
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Judith Vaughn lives in Sonoma, California. She is a member of PoeticLicenseSonoma who read their poetry the 4th Tuesday of each quar-ter at Sebastopol Center for the Arts in Sebastopol, CA; and Redwood Writers’, A branch of the California Writers Club. She has been published in many print and online journals, including First Literary Review-East, Jerry Jazz Musician, Phases – Redwood Writers’ ’23 Poetry Anthology; Crossroads, Redwood Writers’ ’22 Poetry Anthology; Moonlight & Reflections, Nine Sonoma Poets, Valley of the Moon Press ’22; Larry Robinson’s on-line Poetry Lovers, August ’22, September ‘23; Calistoga Poetry Walk, ’22.
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Listen to the 1963 recording of Johnny Hartman singing the Peter De Rose/Sammy Gallop composition “Autumn Serenade,” with John Coltrane (saxophone); McCoy Tyner (piano); Jimmy Garrison (bass); and Elvin Jones (drums). [Universal Music Group]
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Click here to read Jerrice J. Baptiste’s poem for December
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