Fall's Sudden Hush

This is a poem about fall and how it makes me feel

POETRY

M. Pederson

11/10/20251 min read

a man riding a skateboard down the side of a ramp

The air, once thick

with summer's heavy breath.

The fall chill—

it kisses skin with an electric chill,

a promised cold,

a story that begins.

Shedding the sun-drenched versions of the past.

For in the cold, we learn what must remain,

and wait for spring to call our name again.

The sudden hush of fall now begins.

A few thoughts on the changing seasons, both outside and within. I hope you found

a moment of peace here,

M. Pederson

Fall always shows up like it has a point to prove.

Summer leaves behind all its loud heat and sticky chaos, and then fall walks in like, “Alright. Enough. Let’s get real.” The air changes, the light softens, and everything goes a little quiet—like the world is taking a deep breath before the next chapter.

That first chill is the giveaway. It doesn’t just touch your skin, it wakes you up. It reminds you that nothing stays the same—not the weather, not the mood, not the version of you that survived the last season.

And the shedding… yeah. That part is never cute. Letting go rarely is. Sometimes it’s not even a person you’re releasing—it’s an old identity, an old story, an old way of carrying pain like it’s the only proof you loved or tried or mattered.

But fall has its own kind of mercy. It strips life down so you can see what’s real. What still stands when everything else falls away. What’s worth keeping close when the days get shorter.

And spring? Spring will come back when it’s ready. Until then, the hush has a purpose.

I hope this gave you a small pocket of peace—even if it was just one breath.

— M. Pederson

The Pederson Effect

Disclaimer: I am not a licensed therapist, counselor, psychologist, or medical professional. Everything shared on this site is based on my personal lived experience and is for education, reflection, and inspiration only. It is not medical or mental health advice and is not a substitute for professional care.