Accessibility links

Breaking News


This colorful autumn tree-lined drive is part of a farm in Virginia near Washington, D.C. (PHOTO/Kenneth Garrett Photography)
please wait

No media source currently available

0:00 0:07:42 0:00

Now the VOA Learning English program, Words and Their Stories.



A turtle enjoys the sun on a chilly autumn day at a park in Virginia. (Diaa Bekheet/VOA)




Kids all over the world like to play in the fallen leaves of autumn.


But why do we have two names for one season?
















The poem “September Tomatoes” is for those people.

(("September Tomatoes” by Karina Borowicz))

The whiskey stink of rot has settled
in the garden, and a burst of fruit flies rises
when I touch the dying tomato plants.
Still, the claws of tiny yellow blossoms
and toss them in the compost.
It feels cruel. Something in me isn’t ready
to let go of summer so easily. To destroy
what I’ve carefully cultivated all these months.
Those pale flowers might still have time to fruit.
My great-grandmother sang with the girls of her village
as they pulled the flax. Songs so old
and so tied to the season that the very sound
seemed to turn the weather.


I’m Anna Matteo.


Some listeners wrote to us saying they liked the song used at the end of the show. So, here is a YouTube version of Paula Cole singing "Autumn Leaves." Enjoy! -- Anna M.


Words in This Stories

brilliant adj. (of light or color) very bright and radiant.

scenery n. view of natural features (such as mountains, hills or valleys) that is pleasing to look at

preserve v. to prevent (food) from decaying

winterize v. to make (something) able to resist the effects of winter weather

wardrobe n. a collection of clothes that a person owns or wears

flip flopsn. a type of loose rubber sandal

hoard v. to collect and hide a large amount of (something valuable)

stash n. an amount of something that is stored or hidden

sweet toothn. a liking for sweet foods

furry adj. covered with fur

flurry n. a brief period of excitement or activity

cultivate v. to prepare and use (soil) for growing plants

whiskeyn. a strong alcoholic drink made from a grain (such as rye, corn, or barley)

claw n. a body part of an animal (such as a lobster or crab) that is used for gripping and holding things : Note: in the poem, the plants are given “claws,” an animal feature, to show they are hanging on.

blossom n. a flower especially of a fruit tree

compost n. a decayed mixture of plants (such as leaves and grass) that is used to improve the soil in a garden

cruel adj. causing or helping to cause suffering

flax n. a plant that has blue flowers and that is grown for its fiber and its seed

See comments (38)

This forum has been closed.